Antimicrobial factors and microbial contaminants in human milk: recent studies. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Antimicrobial factors and microbial contaminants in human milk: recent studies.

J Paediatr Child Health. 1994 Dec;30(6):470-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/95169434
May JT; Department of Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora,; Victoria, Australia.

Abstract: An overview of recent studies of antimicrobial factors and microbial contaminants found in human milk is presented. The incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in infants receiving human milk continues to be lower than in those not breast-fed due to the presence of specific antibody and possibly anti-adhesion factors in the milk. Whether the many other antimicrobial factors, which have been shown to be active in vitro or in animal model systems, have any influence on infant infections is still not clear. Microbial contaminants in human milk are rare, as are associated infant infections from the milk. However, some contaminants such as cytomegalovirus are commonly transferred to infants from the milk of seropositive mothers, fortunately without any adverse effects in the infants. Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 is transferred via human milk in endemic areas, human milk being the main source of mother-to-infant transmission. While some reports suggest human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transfer may occur through human milk, this is not the predominant mode of transmission to infants.
Keywords: Antibodies, Bacterial/ANALYSIS Antibodies, Protozoan/ANALYSIS Antibodies, Viral/ANALYSIS Bacterial Adhesion Disease Transmission, Vertical Human Infant, Newborn Milk Banks Milk, Human/*IMMUNOLOGY/*MICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, ACADEMICKWDantibodies,bacterial/analysisantibodies,protozoan/analysisantibodies,viral/analysisbacterialadhesiondiseasetransmission,verticalhumaninfant,newbornmilkbanksmilk,human/KWDimmunology/KWDmicrobiologyjournalarticlereviewreview,academic
950630
M9561156

Copyright © 1995 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1995. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1995. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .