Bacterial contaminants of collected and frozen human milk used in an intensive care nursery

doi:10.1016/0196-6553(93)90413-X

American Journal of Infection Control

Volume 21, Issue 5, October 1993, Pages 226-230

https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-6553(93)90413-X Get rights and content

Abstract

Background: Use of human milk for preterm and high-risk neonates conveys many potential benefits but also poses practical difficulties. This prospective study examined the prevalence and degree of bacterial contamination of human milk used in the intensive care nursery.

Methods: One hundred eight milk samples collected from 40 mothers were tested for contamination. Samples from mothers whose milk showed a high degree of contamination were retested after counseling on collection methods.

Results: Only 12.5% of the samples showed no bacterial growth. Of the contaminated samples, 38% contained > 30,000 colony-forming units/ml. The most common contaminants were Staphylococcus epidermidis (82%) and Acinetobacter (9%), but other contaminants were also encountered.

Conclusions: There were not statistically identifiable common characteristics of mothers whose milk showed abundant bacterial contamination. Only 30% of these mothers showed improvement in the degree of contamination after counseling regarding techniques of milk collection.

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ArticleBacterial contaminants of collected and frozen human milk used in an intensive care nursery

Abstract

J Pediatr

J Pediatr

J Pediatr

J Pediatr

J Obstet Gynecol Nurs

Fortified mothers' milk for very low birth infants: results of growth and nutrient balance studies

J Pediatr

Human milk for preterm infants: nutritional and immune factors

Semin Perinatol

Statement on breastfeeding/breast milk and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

J Human Lact

A comparison of colony counts of breast milk using two methods of breast cleansing

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs

Comparison of bacterial contamination with two methods of human milk collection

J Pediatr

The influence of methods of collection and storage on the bacteriology of human milk

J Appl Bacteriol

Mother's milk banking: microbiologic aspects

Can J Publ Health

Collection methods and contamination of bank milk

Arch Dis Child

Organisation of bank of raw and pasteurised human milk for neonatal intensive care

BMJ

Sanitary control of milk

Contaminated breast milk: a source of Klebsiella bacteremia in a newborn intensive care unit

Rev Infect Dis

Nosocomial colonization and infection due to E. coli 125: k70 epidemiologically linked to expressed breast milk feedings

Can J Publ Health

Article
Bacterial contaminants of collected and frozen human milk used in an intensive care nursery