The provision of safe unpasteurised breast milk using a simple aseptic technique

Breast milk samples were collected from sixty-two donating mothers. The mothers, all at home, were carefully selected, their stools screened for the presence of enteroviruses and then given clear cut instructions on the collection technique. The milk was examined for bacteria, HB sAg and other viruses. Twenty-one per cent of the samples were sterile, 64·5 per cent contained commensals and 14·5 per cent grew potential pathogens. All samples containing pathogens had counts greater than 10 6 organisms/litre. There was no evidence of viruses in the donors' stools or in the milk samples examined. It is concluded that safe unpasteurised breast milk can be obtained by using a careful aseptic collection technique under adequate microbiological control.