Comparison of two methods for cleaning breast pump milk collection kits in human milk banks.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate decontamination of breast pump milk collection kits (BPKs) is critical to obtain safe milk for infants and to avoid discarding donor human milk (DHM). AIM: To evaluate two strategies for BPK decontamination by assessing microbial cultures and the proportion of discarded DHM, according to the criteria of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for pre-pasteurization cultures. METHODS: Prospective comparative study, allocation ratio 1:1, microbiologist-blind. PARTICIPANTS: 47 new donors in a human milk bank in Madrid. INTERVENTIONS: Study group (N=21): BPKs washed with water and detergent after each use and further steam decontamination within a microwavable bag. Control group (N=26): washing, rinsing and drying only. Five samples: first sample by hand expression and four samples (one per week) collected using the same pump and method. OUTCOMES: Primary: proportion of DHM discarded due to contamination. Secondary: comparison of the microbiota between samples obtained by hand expression and breast pump in both groups. FINDINGS: In total, 217 milk samples were collected: 47 by hand expression and 170 by pump expression (78 from study group). Steam decontamination of BPKs using a microwavable bag after washing resulted in a lower proportion of discarded DHM samples (1.3% vs 18.5%, P<0.001) and samples contaminated with Enterobacteriaceae (1.3% vs 22.8%, P<0.001) and Candida spp. (1.3% vs 14.1%, P<0.05) compared with samples collected with BPKs that were washed but not steam decontaminated. There were no differences in bacterial contamination between samples obtained using steam decontaminated BPKs and those obtained by hand expression. CONCLUSIONS: Steam decontamination of BPKs using a microwavable bag after washing decreases the amount of discarded DHM and the number of samples with potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Características de las mujeres donantes de un banco de leche materna y relación con el tiempo de donación / Profile of human milk bank donors and relationship with the length of the donation

INTRODUCCIÓN: Promocionar los bancos de leche materna es una importante labor social y sanitaria. Los bancos dependen de las donaciones de madres lactantes, por ello la importancia de conocer las características de las donantes. OBJETIVOS: Describir las características demográficas de las donantes, proporcionar información sobre los factores que les influyen o motivan y relacionar sus características con el tiempo de donación. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo; 168 donantes cumplimentaron un cuestionaron escrito cuando iniciaron la donación. A 98 (58%) de ellas se les pasó una entrevista telefónica. RESULTADOS: La edad media fue 33,1 ± 4,5 años. El 27,9% vivía fuera de Madrid y un 21,4% eran inmigrantes. El 23,7% tenía un empleo a jornada completa, el 65,3% formación universitaria y el 96,2% pareja estable. La principal razón para donar fue exceso de leche (77%) y querer ayudar a otras mujeres (75%). El 20% identificó el transporte de la leche hasta el banco como el principal obstáculo. Para el 61%, la principal razón para terminar la donación fue el final de la lactancia. Se asocia a mayor tiempo de donación tener un hijo a término, con peso mayor de 1.500 g, empezar pronto la donación y compatibilizar la donación con la situación laboral. CONCLUSIÓN: El perfil más común de donante es una mujer joven, universitaria y con pareja estable. El tener un recién nacido a término, iniciar antes la donación y compatibilizar la situación laboral con la donación incrementan el tiempo de donación. Recoger la leche en el domicilio facilitaría la donación a las mujeres

INTRODUCTION: The promotion of Human Milk Banks is an important social service. The Human Milk Banks depend on donors, and knowing the profile of donors seems quite important. OBJECTIVE: To study the demographics and lifestyles of the donors, the reasons or influences for donating, and to associate these variables with the length of the donation. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted on 168 mothers who answered the written questionnaire when they agreed to become donors. 98 (58%) responded to the telephone interview. RESULTS: The mean age was 33.1±4.5 years. Of the total 27.9% lived outside Madrid and 21.4% were immigrants, with 23.7% working full time, 65.3% had a university education, and 96.2% had a stable partner. The main reasons for donating were too much milk (77%), and to help others (75%). The main obstacle was transportation to the Human Milk Bank for 20% of the donors, and for 61% the main reason for terminating donation was due to reaching the end of lactation. A longer donation is associated with: having a term newborn, with birth weight over 1500g, starting donating early and reconciling the donation to the work situation. CONCLUSION: The most common donor profile was a young woman, with university education and a stable partner. Having a term new born, starting donating early, and the conciliation with work is associated with longer donations. Milk pick-up at home would make donation easier

[Profile of human milk bank donors and relationship with the length of the donation]. / Características de las mujeres donantes de un banco de leche materna y relación con el tiempo de donación.

INTRODUCTION: The promotion of Human Milk Banks is an important social service. The Human Milk Banks depend on donors, and knowing the profile of donors seems quite important. OBJECTIVE: To study the demographics and lifestyles of the donors, the reasons or influences for donating, and to associate these variables with the length of the donation. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted on 168 mothers who answered the written questionnaire when they agreed to become donors. 98 (58%) responded to the telephone interview. RESULTS: The mean age was 33.1 ± 4.5 years. Of the total 27.9% lived outside Madrid and 21.4% were immigrants, with 23.7% working full time, 65.3% had a university education, and 96.2% had a stable partner. The main reasons for donating were too much milk (77%), and to help others (75%). The main obstacle was transportation to the Human Milk Bank for 20% of the donors, and for 61% the main reason for terminating donation was due to reaching the end of lactation. A longer donation is associated with: having a term newborn, with birth weight over 1500 g, starting donating early and reconciling the donation to the work situation. CONCLUSION: The most common donor profile was a young woman, with university education and a stable partner. Having a term new born, starting donating early, and the conciliation with work is associated with longer donations. Milk pick-up at home would make donation easier.