Microbiological Profile of Human Donor Milk Pre-Pasteurization and Post-Pasteurization in a Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Hanumakonda, Telangana State

Introduction: Breast milk is the first nourishment for all humans and mammals. It is the new-born's primary and only source of natural food and nutrients, as well as the development of their immunity. Providing donor human milk to vulnerable neonates who are not having access to their mother's milk, not only saves lives, but also raises breastfeeding awareness and increases breastfeeding rates. This highlights the critical need to develop Human Donor Milk Banks to serve preterm, low birth weight, and ill babies, as well as babies who are unable to breastfeed. The effort of setting up of facility-based lactation management centers is in no way intended to lessen the Importance of mother's own milk or the practice of breastfeeding. Microbiological safety of donor human milk (DHM) plays a critical function in assisting vulnerable new-borns and is of greatest priority before issuing the milk to the receiver. Aim and objectives: To cater preterm, low birth weight, ill babies and to promote Donor Human Milk Banks which aids in saving the vulnerable neonates and infants. To determine Microbiological safety of Donor mother's milk In a Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre (CLMC) of a tertiary care hospital (GMH) in Hanumakonda, Telangana state. Materials and Methods: Prior to donating milk, all mothers were counselled and tested for HIV, HBsAg, HCV and Syplilis / VDRL. For each batch,1000 ml of milk is pooled, which is collected from different donor mothers and is pasteurized. Both pre-pasteurized and post-pasteurized donor human milk are inoculated on appropriate media, cultured for 18-24 hours, and further processed according to conventional recommendations for organism isolation. Results: Prior to and after pasteurization, a total of one hundred milk samples were gathered and submitted. A total of 90 samples were found to contain nonpathogenic organisms in the pre pasteurized samples and no visible growth on culture in the post pasteurized samples. Serratia species, Acinetobacter species, Klebsiella species, growth has been observed in 10 samples. Conclusion: Donor human milk from milk banks that is microbiologically healthy can be a lifesaver and immunity booster for life long for preterm, low birth weight neonates who are unable to get their own mother's milk for a variety of reasons. It can also be used to properly nourish and help in growth of these babies. Donor human milk may be safely and successfully prepared to raise public knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding and the necessity of donating it, to unwell new-borns. This could help lower the under-5 mortality rate in India and around the world.