Bacterial stability with freezer storage of human milk
-
Shachee P. Pandya
,
Yaron Fireizen
Abstract
Objectives
Human milk supports the development of a beneficial newborn intestinal microflora. We have shown previously that human milk had reduced bacteria but unchanged nutrient composition when stored at −20 °C for up to nine months. We suspected declining bacterial colony counts were manifestations of bacterial dormancy and not failure of survival. We investigated differences in selected bacterial colony counts (lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, staphylococcus, streptococcus and enterococcus) in human milk stored for 2 and 12 weeks at −20 °C in either manual or automatic defrost freezers and whether reduced bacterial counts at 12 weeks were the result of dormancy or failure of survival.
Methods
Freshly expressed milk was obtained from mothers in the NICU, divided into aliquots and stored for 2 and 12 weeks at −20 °C in either automatic or manual defrost freezers. Subsequently, duplicate aliquots, one thawed and the other thawed and maintained at room temperature for 4 h, were plated to assess bacterial colony counts.
Results
Significant declines in bacterial colony counts were seen from 2 to 12 weeks freezer storage for all bacteria. There were no differences in colony counts between freezer types. Once thawed, no further bacterial growth occurred.
Conclusions
Short-term freezer storage for 12 weeks resulted bacterial killing. Type of freezer used for storage did not have an impact on bacterial survival. It is unknown whether the paucity of important probiotic bacteria in stored human milk has adverse effects on infants.
Funding source: Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Funding source: Department of Pediatircs
Award Identifier / Grant number: 100011300
Acknowledgments
The authors thank NICU lactation coordinators for their help with milk collection and the mothers who provided milk samples.
Research funding: This study was funded by the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Northwell Health and informed consent was obtained from mothers.
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© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
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- Frontmatter
- Review
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- Corner of Academy
- Long term alterations of growth after antenatal steroids in preterm twin pregnancies
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
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- Comparison of hematological parameters and perinatal outcomes between COVID-19 pregnancies and healthy pregnancy cohort
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- Risk factors for pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism in Singapore
- Does the length of second stage of labour or second stage caesarean section in nulliparous women increase the risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies?
- Reference range for C1-esterase inhibitor (C1 INH) in the third trimester of pregnancy
- Termination of pregnancy following a Down Syndrome diagnosis: decision-making process and influential factors in a Muslim but secular country, Turkey
- High dose vs. low dose oxytocin for labor augmentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Extremely high levels of alkaline phosphatase and pregnancy outcome: case series and review of the literature
- Cervical elastography strain ratio and strain pattern for the prediction of a successful induction of labour
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- CD34 immunostain increases sensitivity of the diagnosis of fetal vascular malperfusion in placentas from ex-utero intrapartum treatment
- The ability of various cerebroplacental ratio thresholds to predict adverse neonatal outcomes in term fetuses exhibiting late-onset fetal growth restriction
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