Microflora in human milk samples

According to international regulations human milk is not allowed to contain injurious microorganisms. In conformity with internal regulations the total number of germs must be below 10,000/ml. The present work informs on the test results of 5710 milk samples as to total number of germs and foreign infections. Coliforms were found 1139 times, Staphylococcus 1604 times, and Pseud. aeruginosa 364 times. Furthermore, relatively pathogenic microorganisms were indicated in 32 and aerobic spore-forming organisms in 66 samples. The number of cultivable microorganisms (number of units forming colonies) was with 84% of the samples below 10(4)/ml. The qualitative germ-determination was performed in 3512 cases. The flora consisted of milk Streptococci and Micrococci. Lactobacillus and Bifidus bacterium could not be indicated by means of the methods used. Micrococci which were found in 1258 samples were cultivable only in little amounts. The results underlined the importance to observe sanitary measures with obtaining and storing human milk; for collected milk a pasteurization is still indispensable.