A Comparative Study on the Microbiological Profile of Donor Human Milk - Pre and Post Pasteurisation

Abstract

Human breast milk is regarded as a cornerstone of infant and child mortality around the world as it is excellent for the immunological as well as dietary needs of the newborns, especially in instances of premature birth or in environments with limited resources. As a result,  the Human Milk Bank plays a crucial role and is a major component of neonatal health.In our study, out of the 470 samples tested, 19.6% of  pre pasteurisation samples were found to be culture positive.   Klebsiella Pneumonia (18.5%), Klebsiella Pneumonia with cons (16.3%), Streptococcus (11.9%), E. Coli (9.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.7%), and Klebsiella with non fermenters (7.6%) were the most prevalent bacteria  identified.  None of the samples were found to be culture positive after pasteurization.  Hence, milk banks are pre requisites to provide safe and sustainable source of human breast milk to vulnerable newborns.