Abstract
Because all breast milk is contaminated, it is important to minimize the risk of bacterial growth in breast milk infusions to immunocompromised newborns. This study tested bacterial growth by serial dilutions and plate counts in breast milk as a function of (1) refrigeration to 24 hrs, (2) tubing contamination, (3) infusion time at room temperature. Thawed breast milk was infused at 1-2 cc/hr through iv tubing for a total of 12 hrs. The breast milk was refrigerated until use in a continuous 12-hr infusion or three serial four-hr infusions which were cultured at time 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 hrs. Differential growth during sequential four-hr infusions reflected tubing contamination, which was compared to bacterial growth during a 12-hr room-temperature infusion to determine bacterial growth independent of tubing contamination. There was no increase in bacterial growth during 24 hrs of refrigeration or during a four-hr room-temperature infusion (N=12). The mean increase in bacterial growth due to tuba contamination during hrs 4-8 was 0.5 log, during hrs 8-12 was 1.5 log (N=4). The mean increase in bacterial growth, independent of tube contamination during hrs 0-8 was 0.5 log, during hrs 0-12 was 0.5 log (N=4). Our data suggest that there is no increase in bacterial growth in breast milk during four-hr infusions at room temperature or 24 hrs of refrigeration; because tube contamination and bacterial growth appear after four hrs at room temperature, breast milk and tubing should be changed every four hrs.
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Wright, L., Ullsperger, S. & McKenna, M. THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, TUBING AND TIME ON BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF BREAST MILK INFUSIONS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 218 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00748
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00748