Antimicrobial advantage: Augmenting pasteurized pooled donor human breast milk from human milk bank with human milk fortifier and probiotics against pathogens linked to necrotizing enterocolitis
Paper Details
Antimicrobial advantage: Augmenting pasteurized pooled donor human breast milk from human milk bank with human milk fortifier and probiotics against pathogens linked to necrotizing enterocolitis
Abstract
Breast Milk is essential for neonates, providing vital nutrients and immunological protection. When a mother’s Own Milk (MOM) is unavailable, Pasteurized pooled donor Human Breast Milk (PHBM) from Human Milk Bank (HMB) is a suitable alternative. This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of freshly Expressed Breast Milk (EBM), Unpasteurized Pooled Donor Breast Milk (UPHBM), and PHBM, including various fortifications with Human Milk Fortifiers (HMF) and probiotics Bifidobacterium breve-M16-V (B. breve) and Limosilactobacillus reuteri-DSM17938 (L. reuteri). Findings indicate that long storage and pasteurization significantly diminish the bactericidal activity of breast milk. However, fortifying PHBM with HMF and specific probiotics enhances its antimicrobial effects against bacteria associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). Despite these enhancements, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remained unaffected, highlighting pathogen-specific variability. Overall, fortifying PHBM at HMB may help restore nutritional and protective qualities lost during pasteurization, offering improved antimicrobial protection for preterm infants at risk of NEC.
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Vikraman Kalidoss, Gayathiri Govindaraju, S. S. Sudha, P. Sabarish, Suja Mariam, 2025. Antimicrobial advantage: Augmenting pasteurized pooled donor human breast milk from human milk bank with human milk fortifier and probiotics against pathogens linked to necrotizing enterocolitis. Int. J. Biosci., 26(2), 224-231.
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