Breast milk is the best source of nutrition as it is composed of all bio active components required for the growth and development of infant. Even after the advances in infant formula mixes, breast milk is universally accepted to be best suited to infants. The objective of this study is to ensure quality of donated breast milk as a safe end product. The study is done to determine the prevalence of potentially pathogenic micro-organism that indicates hygiene and sanitary conditions of human milk collected at milk bank. The study was conducted for a period of 5 months (Jan-May 2016) in dept of microbiology at Mahatma Gandhi hospital, Jaipur. 130 samples of human milk collected at human milk bank were taken for microbiological analysis. Among the total no. of samples collected 75 samples was of raw milk and remaining 55 was pasteurized milk. The latter were plated on blood agar and MacConkey agar. The isolated organisms were confirmed by various biochemical test and reactions. Out of 130 samples, 75 (58%) was raw milk and out of it 61 (81%) showed growth of micro organism and 14 (19%) was sterile. Among remaining 55 (42%) was pasteurized milk which showed growth in 12 (22%) and 43 (78%) were sterile. The study indicates that raw milk received is heavily contaminated. As for pasteurized milk, despite elimination of greater majority of potentially pathogenic organism, few organisms were identified. | Microbiological surveillance of human milk from milk bank in tertiary care hospital in Jaipur India
