[Evaluation of the bacteriologic quality of breast milk in a neonatology service in Belgium].

Many studies demonstrated that human milk is the recommended source of enteral nutrition in preterm infants providing several benefits with regards to feeding tolerance, immunity and cognitive development However, neurological immaturity and associated clinical conditions prevent them from suckling effectively. Therefore, mother's milk must be expressed, stored and transported to the neonatal unit and could be contaminated. The microbiological quality of human milk was evaluated on each donation to the neonatal intensive care unit of the University of Liege, Belgium from November 1, 2003 to January 31, 2005. In all, 5842 samples from 176 mothers were included in the study. Samples were classified according to the exclusive presence of coagulase negative Staphylococcus and their number (less or more than 104 germs per ml) or to contamination with pathogens. More than 50% of analyzed milks had to be pasteurized (46%; >104 coagulase negative Staphylococcus per ml) or to be discarded (7% pathogen contamination). The incidence of pasteurisation tends to increase during the summer, suggesting a seasonal influence. Maternal profiles were established longitudinally. Among the 60 mothers whose at least one sample had pathogen contamination, 27% had a contamination occurring only during a few days, but 73% had more than 50% of their samples discarded. This study suggest the need to promote the use and the financial support of intrahospital human milk bank units to support the safe use of raw and pasteurised human milk in preterm infants.