Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin production in raw, Holder-pasteurized, and ultraviolet-C-treated donated human milk
Abstract
Background: Some strains of Staphylococcus aureus can produce heat-stable enterotoxins that have been associated with gastritis and potentially necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.
Objectives/Hypothesis: To assess the impact of different storage temperatures on S. aureus growth and enterotoxin production in raw, Holder-pasteurized (HP) and ultraviolet-C (UV-C)-treated donated human milk (DHM).
Materials and Methods: The milk samples from individual donors were pooled and divided into four equal portions. One portion was HP, the second was UV-C treated, the third was not treated, and the fourth was UV-C treated after being spiked with S. aureus. All samples were incubated at 37°C (18 hours) and 4°C (14 days). Bacterial colony count, enterotoxin A and B, and immune proteins were quantified.
Results: At 37°C, the colony count increased in HP DHM and decreased in raw and UV-C-treated DHM. At 4°C, colony counts in HP DHM reduced and were not detected in raw and UV-C-treated DHM from day 8 of incubation. No bacteria were detected in samples that were inoculated before UV-C treatment. Enterotoxin A was only detected in HP-DHM at 37°C from the 9th hour onward. Enterotoxin B was detected in one sample at the 15th hour. Immune protein concentrations were similar in raw and UV-C DHM, and were reduced in the HP DHM.
Conclusion: UV-C-treated milk reduces S. aureus growth with similar kinetics to raw milk making it a promising emerging technique to eliminate bacteria while retaining essential immune proteins in DHM.
Document Type
Journal Article
Funding Information
Funding information available at https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2018.0217
PubMed ID
30817174
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
28561
Copyright
subscription content
Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert
Comments
Almutawif, Y., Hartmann, B., Lloyd, M., Lai, C. T., Rea, A., & Geddes, D. (2019). Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin production in raw, Holder-Pasteurized, and ultraviolet-C-treated donated human milk. Breastfeeding Medicine, 14(4), 262-270. Available here