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Storage of Human Breast Milk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Elaine Larson ,
Ramona Zuill ,
Vicki Zier  and
Barbara Berg
Elaine Larson*
Affiliation:
University of Washington School of Nursing and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Washington Hospital
Ramona Zuill
Affiliation:
University of Washington School of Nursing and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Washington Hospital
Vicki Zier
Affiliation:
University of Washington School of Nursing and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Washington Hospital
Barbara Berg
Affiliation:
University of Washington School of Nursing and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Washington Hospital
*
Quality Assurance and Research, Nursing Services RC-36, University Hospital, Seattle WA 98195
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Abstract

The bacteriologic content of expressed breast milk was studied in 30 mothers at the time of expression and after 24 and 48 hours of refrigeration. There were no significant differences in colony counts between the three time intervals. All samples contained Staphylococcus epidermidis. In addition, eight other species were found, including four which were gram-negative. All samples contained <106 colonies/ml, and there were no significant differences in mean colony counts between samples expressed at home and at the hospital. We conclude that it is bacteriologically safe to refrigerate expressed breast milk for up to 48 hours.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , March 1984 , pp. 127 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1984

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