Can staphylococcus pass into breast milk: a danger to the baby. Signs of staphylococcus in breast milk and the necessary treatment Staphylococcus was found in breast milk what to do

Why is staphylococcus found in breast milk? How does the infection get into the chest? What diseases can cause the child and mother? Is treatment possible without stopping breastfeeding? Features of staphylococcal infection during lactation.

Staphylococci are a genus of bacteria widely distributed in nature. They live in soil, air, even on the body of humans and animals. Some of them are conditionally pathogenic, that is, in low concentrations they do not pose any danger. Epidemic, saprophytic and hemolytic staphylococci can become pathogens only if the human immunity is weakened, which will allow bacterial colonies to develop unhindered.

Called pathogenic, it belongs to the most dangerous type of bacteria for humans. It is able to cause inflammatory processes in various organs and tissues, provoking purulent tonsillitis, skin pustular rashes,. In a nursing mother, it can cause infectious mastitis.

4 popular misconceptions

The detection of staphylococcus aureus in breast milk always becomes a reason for prescribing treatment for both the woman and the child. Often, doctors recommend not breastfeeding for the period of illness, that is, until the analysis for staphylococcus aureus in breast milk becomes sterile.

This position is recognized as unjustified by the latest medicine. It is based on a number of misconceptions that have so far accompanied the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.

Staphylococcus is a symptom of the disease. According to the doctor of the highest category, head of the neonatal pathology department of the Children's Hospital. Filatov Mikhail Kyshtymov, the detection of staphylococcus aureus in breast milk can speak ... about nothing at all. “In 80% of cases, the detection of bacteria is the result of an incorrect sampling of the analysis,” Mikhail Vladimirovich comments. - Staphylococcus is present everywhere. It is impossible to create complete sterility for collecting analysis. It can get into milk from the skin of the chest, palms, even from the air.
It is always necessary to treat staphylococcus aureus.“If the mother does not have an inflammatory disease, and the child does not show any symptoms of the disease, treatment, and even more so with the interruption of breastfeeding, is not required,” says lactation specialist Natalya Razakhatskaya. Moreover, frequent microbiological studies on the composition of microflora are a feature and nonsense of our medicine. According to the candidate of medical sciences, senior researcher at the Research Institute of Antibimicrobial Chemotherapy Oleg Stetsyuk, breast milk is not a sterile liquid. On the skin of the mammary glands, in their ducts, various bacteria colonize, including staphylococcus aureus - this is the norm during lactation. According to international recommendations, microbiological culture of breast milk is not advisable.
Any type of infection is dangerous.“Sowing staphylococcus from mother's milk is not a reason for weaning and any treatment at all. Even the presence of Staphylococcus aureus does not require application if the condition of the mother and child is normal, ”specifies Oleg Stetsyuk.
Bacteria in mother's milk cause severe illness in the baby.“In clinical practice, there were no cases when staphylococcus from mother's milk caused severe illness in an infant,” comments the head. department of pathology of newborns of the Children's Hospital. N. Filatova Mikhail Kyshtymov. - It can only serve as a motivating factor in the presence of an additional source of infection against the background of a general decline.

A staphylococcal infection can penetrate the mammary gland from a focus in a woman's body or from the surface of the skin. At the same time, bacteria do not multiply in the milk itself. They mix with his flow from a habitable crack in the chest or a clogged duct.

Possible consequences

Infection with staphylococcus occurs in several ways.

Drip-air. Through this "channel" the infection most often spreads in maternity hospitals and hospitals. It is known that strains from medical institutions are especially resistant to antibiotics, they are the most difficult to deal with. However, proper sanitization of the chambers destroys the pathogen almost completely. To avoid the spread of bacteria, wards and postpartum wards should be subjected to regular quartz treatment, treatment with a one percent solution of chloramine.
Contact. The causative agent colonizes the skin when touching the skin (handshake), hygiene items (shared towels), furniture in public institutions, railings. It is almost impossible to avoid contact with him. To reduce the concentration on the hands, it is enough to regularly wash them with soap and water.
Intrauterine. Women carriers of staphylococcal infection may have children with severe symptoms of the disease. The foci of infection are carious cavities, mucous membranes of the throat with chronic tonsillitis, intestines in mothers suffering from chronic dysbacteriosis.

The most common way for staphylococcus to enter breast milk is from the skin of the breast, if available. Injured areas of the skin become "entrance gates" for bacteria, the active reproduction of which is facilitated by heat and moisture.

Therefore, the best prevention of staphylococcus during lactation is to take care of the condition of the mammary glands and fight against cracks. They, in turn, are most often caused by improper attachment of the baby to the breast.

A high concentration of bacteria in milk and the presence of concomitant factors stimulate the development of diseases.

The likelihood of developing the disease increases if the child:

was born prematurely, does not gain weight;
sick, resulting in reduced immunity;
receives, in addition to breast milk, water, formula.

Symptoms of staphylococcus in breast milk are determined by the focus of the inflammatory process in the body of the baby and mother.

Enterocolitis. It is manifested by frequent, and the baby, anxiety of the baby due to abdominal pain. Often accompanied by and.
Pemphigus. The disease occurs in the form of inflammation of the skin of the child. Usually the lower abdomen, back, folds on the neck are affected. They are covered with numerous bubbles with a cloudy liquid inside. The danger of pemphigus is the likelihood of developing sepsis in the absence of proper treatment.
Infectious. It affects the eyes, causes pain, swelling of the eyelids. Characteristic signs of a staphylococcal infection that caused conjunctivitis during breastfeeding are purulent discharge from the eyes, lacrimation. In the morning, the eyelids stick together, the baby cannot open them on his own.
Abscess. In a child, abscesses can be multiple, covering the scalp, the surface of the trunk, and neck. They are ulcers surrounded by purple-red skin. When opened, yellow or green pus is released from them. There is a general weakness of the baby, fever. In the mother, an abscess forms in the breast affected by staphylococcus aureus. It does not develop all at once. An abscess is preceded by , transforming into . During lactostasis during breastfeeding, the disease is successfully treated by frequent attachment of the baby to the breast without additional therapy.
Phlegmon. The defeat of the subcutaneous tissue, is manifested by an increase in body temperature of the crumbs, severe malaise. The child experiences acute pain in the places of accumulation of pus, his skin is painful, swollen, reddened, swollen.
Sepsis. Most often, it develops as a result of infection of a weakened child through contact with a sick mother, the staff of the maternity hospital. It manifests itself rapidly, already in the first month of life. It begins with acute inflammation of the focus of the development of the disease, then there is a lesion of the whole organism: with a pronounced increase in the liver, multiple pustules on the body, tachycardia, shortness of breath.

These symptoms in a baby of staph in breast milk require immediate medical attention. Treatment of acute, severe diseases occurs exclusively in the hospital, as they pose a threat to the life of the baby. Self-medication with folk remedies is unacceptable. Inhibition of infection provides only combination therapy with the use of antibiotics, antimicrobial agents, vitamins.

breastfeeding with infection

Staphylococcus is capable of causing severe diseases, but in most cases its danger is exaggerated. Approach to the appointment of therapy, and even more so to recommend the refusal of breastfeeding, each doctor should individually.

“There is no pathogenic microflora in breast milk,” says doctor of the highest category, AKEV expert Yakov Yakovlev. - It contains only those bacteria that make up a healthy intestinal microflora. If a pathogen is found in milk, it means that it got there from the skin or ducts. But even once in the intestines of a child, it does not necessarily cause any disease.”

Breast milk contains immunoglobulins and a whole range of substances that protect the baby's body from infections. Dangerous bacteria that enter it from the skin of the mother are completely inhibited by the local intestinal microflora.

According to Yakov Yakovlev, when staphylococcus is detected in breast milk, treatment is not required in most cases:

treat the mother if staphylococcus aureus is found during culture;
treat the child if bacteria are found in the milk;
take cultures on the microflora of milk, as it does not contain pathogenic bacteria.

Treatment is prescribed in the following situations.

maternal infectious mastitis. Therapy for the affected breast includes maintaining breastfeeding with an increase in the number of attachments to it. According to WHO recommendations, staphylococcal mastitis is not a reason for interrupting breastfeeding. But it requires antibiotic treatment, many of which are fully compatible with lactation.
Clinical picture of staphylococcal infection in a child. The decision on temporary weaning is made individually, in the presence of a large concentration of bacteria in the milk. However, it is important to remember that milk itself is not a source of the disease, the reason for it lies in the factors that reduce the immunity of the baby.

Modern medicine recommends being guided by the well-being of the child in the matter of maintaining breastfeeding when a staphylococcal infection is detected, - clarifies the leading specialist of the Federal Research Institute of Medical Problems of Health Development of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation L. V. Abolyan. - Even if the mother has staphylococcus aureus, there are cracks in the breast, but the child feels well, breastfeeding can be continued.

This opinion is supported by the famous pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky. “If the baby is calm, cheerful, there is no temperature, purulent discharge and abdominal pain, then the bacteria are neutralized by antibodies. And you pass them on to your baby along with breast milk.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, pediatric gastroenterologist Yuri Kopanev recommends local therapy for the mother without stopping breastfeeding. “It is not necessary to treat the disease with antibiotics,” Yury Alexandrovich clarifies. - A good effect is provided by the treatment of the mammary glands with herbal antiseptics - "Chlorophyllipt" or "Rotokan" for two to three weeks. During this time, the sores on the nipples will disappear, and with them the germs.

There can be many reasons for the detection of staphylococcus in breast milk: from the presence of lesions on the skin of the breast to improper sampling. Although in practice it is impossible to pass the analysis “correctly”, that is, under conditions of complete sterility. Therefore, the issue of treatment of the disease should be approached carefully. Therapy is shown to the mother in the presence of cracks in the skin of the mammary glands. And the child in the presence of an obvious clinical picture of a staphylococcal infection.

The body of a nursing mother is weakened after childbirth. Protective barriers are not as reliable as before, they save from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. And here is the result: a woman learns with horror that a dangerous microorganism staphylococcus has “settled” in her breast milk. Where to run, where and how to be treated - these are paramount questions, the health of the child depends on their solution. However, before you panic, you should calmly figure out whether staphylococcus is so terrible and in all cases it is necessary to quickly get rid of harmful bacteria.

Staphylococcus and its types

"Stafili" - in Greek "grapes", "cocci" - "grains". These two words gave the name to one of the most famous microbes in the world. Indeed, under a microscope, staphylococci resemble round or oval grains that cling to each other like bunches of grapes.

In the family of staphylococci, science distinguishes 27 species. Of these, 14 are related to humans, but only 3 species are considered pathogenic (capable of causing disease). It:

The vitality of Staphylococcus aureus is amazing. A separate resistant group of bacteria is not afraid of penicillin and other antibiotics, lives for 10 minutes in boiling water up to 150 ° C, is immune to alcohol and has adapted to feed on hydrogen peroxide.

Staphylococcus aureus has a microcapsule, with which it penetrates into living cells, and poisons that destroy cell structures.

The pest has a detrimental effect on the skin, lungs, mucous membranes, digestive organs, brain and bone marrow.

Studies have shown that pathologies caused by staphylococci have affected almost every inhabitant on the planet at least once. Moreover, people who have had the disease do not develop immunity to the microbe.

Photo gallery: diseases caused by staphylococci

Saprophytic staphylococcus aureus causes cystitis Reproduction on mucous membranes of epidermal staphylococcus leads to sepsis Staphylococcus aureus in breast milk is the cause of mastitis

Where does staphylococcus in breast milk come from

Like other bacteria, staphylococcus is ubiquitous. The habitat of a microorganism is earth, air, water, living beings, including humans. No matter how carefully the rooms and clothes in the maternity hospital are treated, new microbes quickly come to the place of the former ones. For this reason, it is impossible to create a sterile environment for women in labor even in the case of complete isolation from outside contacts.

A woman can catch staphylococcus aureus through:

poorly processed medical instruments;
contacts with medical personnel;
air in the room;
improperly cooked food.

Staphylococci also live on a doctor's or nurse's gown

However, this development of events does not mean at all that the young mother will definitely get sick. The microbe can live on the skin for a long time without getting inside the body. If a woman in labor also thoroughly washes her hands and regularly treats her nipples, staphylococcus is unlikely to find its way to breast milk.

The microbe enters milk in two ways:

through cracks in the nipple - along the milk ducts;
through the lymphatic vessels - if a woman, being pregnant, has already become infected with a staphylococcal infection.

The trouble of nursing mothers is cracked nipples. They are formed, first of all, from inept breastfeeding: either the baby captures only the edge of the nipple with her mouth, while it is necessary - along with the areola, or the woman allows the baby to suck for too long even after he has had enough. As a result - a wound on the nipple, which serves as a "gateway" for bacteria living on the body.

Does staphylococcus always attack

It sounds strange, but the latest medicine advises mothers who have a germ found not to grab antibiotics: even such a harmful microorganism in breast milk is not a symptom of the disease. Moreover, this is the norm: most often, staphylococcus behaves peacefully in the human body, without disturbing the “owner”. Therefore, the microbe fell into the category of conditionally pathogenic (as opposed to pathogenic).

If the mother and baby do not show signs of infection, it is premature to resort to treatment. It is also undesirable to stop breastfeeding.

With mother's milk, the child receives antibodies that strengthen his immune system. As a result, the body of a healthy baby successfully fights against staphylococcus aureus.

When children are vulnerable to infectious agents

If the baby's system of counteracting harmful microorganisms is weakened, the baby may be attacked by staphylococci.

The risk area includes:

premature;
born with pathologies;
weak, weighing less than average;
receiving artificial nutrition from birth.

The body of a premature baby lacks the strength to fight infections

If staphylococcus has found a loophole in the weakened defense system, it shows aggression, starting to affect the skin and internal organs of the child.

Signs of infection:

liquid green stool with mucus;
bloating;
cough;
runny nose with pus;
heat;
vomit;
conjunctivitis;
pustules, blisters on the body.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your baby, call your doctor immediately. The main thing - do not self-medicate: for example, do not wash your eyes with conjunctivitis - this way you will not get rid of staphylococcus aureus, but simply drive it inside.

If the bacterium gets into the child's blood, infection can begin - in this case, a blood transfusion will be required. If the microbe enters the lungs, the baby is threatened with pneumonia.

When a bacterium harms a breastfeeding mother

As long as a woman is breastfeeding her baby correctly and regularly, decanting, she is free from lactostasis - stagnation of milk in the glands. Errors in the feeding technique provoke the development of this pathology - and staphylococcus is just what it needs. The bacterium begins to master the space, while the woman's health worsens, symptoms appear:

pain and heaviness in the chest;
redness of the skin on the surface of the chest;
the appearance of areas of seals;
difficulties with expressing milk (the process is uneven);
an increase in temperature (but there is no heat yet).

The baby must capture the nipple with the areola with his mouth, otherwise the mother risks getting lactostasis

If the mother manages to establish breastfeeding in accordance with all the rules, milk stagnation will stop. It happens that the fever does not go away within two days - then there is a threat of infectious mastitis. The help of a doctor is required.

At first, the symptoms of lactostasis and mastitis are similar, but with the latter they quickly increase. The disease goes through several stages until it reaches the destructive phase - purulent mastitis. This condition threatens the woman's life. Signs of a purulent stage:

Further - worse: a sharp drop in hemoglobin, lack of milk in the breast, tissue necrosis. There comes a gangrenous stage of mastitis, in which, perhaps, the mammary gland will have to be removed. This is how staphylococcus works if you do not fight it.

pus contains already dead bacteria;
the baby’s body is able to produce antibodies that will “fight” harmful microbes.

Not everyone likes the radical position of WHO: more cautious doctors advise stopping breastfeeding in the destructive phase of mastitis.

Diagnosis of staphylococcus

If a nursing mother suffers from lactostasis and suspects the onset of an infection, she will consider getting tested for the presence of staphylococcus aureus in breast milk. Milk for the laboratory should be prepared hygienically so that particles from clothes do not get into the liquid for analysis. You can use a sterilized breast pump.

The procedure looks like this:

Find two disposable jars (plastic or glass) separately for the right and left breasts.
Boil glass containers for 10-12 minutes, wash plastic ones thoroughly.
Label each jar so that it is clear from which gland the milk is in it.
Wash hands and both breasts with baby soap.
Express 10 ml of milk from each breast - and pour it out: the first portion is not suitable for sowing.
Wash the glands again and wipe with a napkin.
In each jar, express 10-15 ml from the corresponding breast; close containers tightly with lids.
Take jars with contents to the laboratory. The main thing is time: the laboratory assistant does the sowing of breast milk a maximum of 3 hours after pumping. Later, the material will become unusable.

The breast pump will help prepare breast milk for analysis

In the laboratory, staphylococci are waiting for nutritious soil in which they will quickly grow. A week later, the result is ready. They determine the type and number of microbes, as well as resistance to antibiotics (after this it will be useful in treatment).

Possible analysis results

Sterile breast milk in modern conditions is extremely rare, doctors say.

In 80% of cases, the detection of bacteria is the result of incorrect sampling of the analysis. Staphylococcus is present everywhere. It is impossible to create complete sterility for collecting analysis. It can get into milk from the skin of the chest, palms, even from the air.
Kyshtymov Mikhail, head of the department of the Children's Hospital. Filatov
http://kids365.ru/stafilokokk-v-grudnom-moloke/

Therefore, the most likely results of bacteriological culture are:

staphylococci were found, and in small quantities - there is no reason to panic, since these microbes also live in a healthy body;
a larger accumulation was found - it’s too early to worry: the microbe is conditionally pathogenic, and until favorable conditions for its reproduction are created, it will not attack;
found many colonies of Staphylococcus aureus - the most dangerous.

It would seem that in the latter case, the mother should be advised to immediately stop breastfeeding the baby. However, the opinion of many modern doctors, including the famous children's doctor Komarovsky, is to continue feeding. Because in breast milk there cannot be such a concentration of staphylococci at which breastfeeding becomes dangerous.

A little about the norm

There are certain norms for the content of staphylococcus on objects, skin and mucous membranes. Depending on how the microbe grows, 4 degrees are distinguished:

Weak growth - only in a liquid medium, there is no danger to the body.
Growth to 10 colonies of the species - no danger.
Growth from 10 to 100 colonies is the onset of the disease.
Growth of more than 100 colonies is a pronounced pathology.

If, according to the results of the analysis, staphylococcus 10 in 3 degrees is a variant of the norm.
Not all scientists agree that a large number of staphylococci in breast milk requires the cessation of breastfeeding.

However, a number of doctors say: there is no concept of “the norm of staphylococcus in breast milk”. And although it is determined during the analysis, 150 CFU / ml or 200 CFU / ml (colony-forming unit, shows the number of microorganisms per unit volume), it does not matter. The main thing is the condition of the chest. A healthy baby will cope with germs with the help of antibodies. And an infected with a staphylococcal infection can be treated without taking it off the chest. In mother, the presence of a microorganism in milk matters only if purulent mastitis is suspected.

To determine if a child has staphylococcus, they first go to a neonatologist. Most likely, the doctor will send you to take the following tests:

sowing from the nasopharynx;
skin scraping;
blood analysis;
bacteriological culture of feces;
bacteriological culture of mucus.

The danger to the health of the baby starts from the indicator of staphylococcus in the feces 10 to the 4th degree. And with an indicator of 10 to the 6th degree, the child, as a rule, already has a purulent infection, so it is urgent to take up treatment.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky about tests for staphylococcus aureus

Treatment of staphylococcal infection in a nursing mother

At the stage of lactostasis and non-infectious mastitis, a woman can limit herself to folk remedies. With purulent inflammation, medical treatment is required.

Folk remedies for the disease

To prevent milk stagnation from ending in infection, it must be dealt with in the early stages. In the fight against cracks in the nipples and inflammation of the breast, "grandmother's recipes" will help.
Cabbage leaf will relieve the symptoms of lactostasis

To soften the chest, they also use ordinary ice from the refrigerator. It is wrapped with a cloth, put on a reddened place and held for 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure every 3 hours. The main thing is not to get carried away, otherwise hypothermia is possible.

You should not prescribe folk remedies for yourself - you always need the help of a doctor, otherwise you risk provoking mastitis.

Table: folk remedies against lactostasis

Name	How to cook	How it works
Apples with butter	Grate gruel from fresh apples. Add melted butter. Put on the sore spot.	heals cracked nipples
Kalanchoe juice	sore spot on the chest pour juice or apply a liquid-soaked bandage	heals cracked nipples
cabbage leaf	Scald a leaf of fresh cabbage with boiling water. Apply to sore chest.	Relieves inflammation. Has an antibacterial effect.
honey cake	Knead the dough from 1 part honey and 2 parts flour. Roll out the cake and put on the chest. Keep through the night.	Dissolves seals. Relieves inflammation.
Salt compress	In a glass of warm boiled water, dissolve 1 tbsp. l. salt. Moisten a cloth with a solution, put on a breast smeared with cream, leaving the halo and nipple exposed. Cover with a warm cloth. Keep until cool.	Draws out excess fluid. Relieves inflammation.

Herbal antiseptics

A number of doctors advise patients to get rid of nipple cracks with the help of herbal preparations, which are sold in pharmacies.

It is not necessary to treat the disease with antibiotics. A good effect is provided by the treatment of the mammary glands with herbal antiseptics - Chlorophyllipt or Rotokan for two to three weeks. During this time, the sores on the nipples will disappear, and with them the germs.
Yuri Kopanev, candidate of medical sciences

Both drugs, as written in the instructions, have an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effect:

Chlorophyllipt is a natural preparation with eucalyptus extract, contains vitamin C. Cracks in the nipples are lubricated with an oil solution. Within 2-3 weeks, the wounds should disappear. It is released on prescription, the price of the drug is from 103 to 137 rubles;
Rotokan - extract of pharmaceutical herbs with alcohol. In 1 glass of water, dilute 1 teaspoon of Rotokan, apply to wounds. It is released without a prescription, the price is 33 rubles.

Antibiotic treatment

The turn of bactericidal drugs comes when other means do not help. So, if the high temperature does not go away, the woman feels that the condition is deteriorating - which means that antibiotics are indispensable.

The choice for the attending physician is difficult: medicines must kill the pathogenic microflora and not harm the baby, and most antibiotics pass into breast milk. The drugs of 3 groups are recognized as relatively safe:

penicillins (pass into milk in small amounts);
cephalosporins (initially few in milk, but with chest inflammation it becomes more);
macrolides (better than others penetrate into milk, but less toxic and allergenic).

From the group of cephalosporins, the drug Cefalexin can be mentioned. It is effective against Staphylococcus aureus, however, when prescribing a remedy, doctors recommend temporarily stopping breastfeeding.
Cefalexin has an antibacterial effect, during treatment you will have to stop breastfeeding

It must be remembered that most antibiotics, while fighting infectious agents, do not treat mastitis itself.

Some of the experts even doubt that such drugs can kill a bacterium that lives in boiling water for 10 minutes and digests hydrogen peroxide.

Table: Antibiotics while breastfeeding

Bacteriophages as a possible replacement for antibiotics

Live bacteria or viruses of natural origin are called bacteriophages. They are designed to "infiltrate" the pest's cell and kill it. To combat Staphylococcus aureus, several "squads" of the so-called staphylococcal phages are used at once.

The live culture is contained in a vial. With infectious mastitis, the agent is used orally 1 hour before meals 3 times a day. You need to do this according to the rules:

do not dilute the contents of the vial;
wash your hands before taking the drug;
treat the cap of the vial with a solution of alcohol;
close the vial immediately after use;
store the opened container at a temperature of 2–8 ° for 2 years.

The course of phage therapy is 1-3 weeks. The dosage is determined by the doctor.

There are different opinions about the effectiveness of staphylococcal phages. For many Russian specialists, live bacteria are the best replacement for antibiotics. And foreign doctors do not particularly trust bacteriophages, believing that more power is needed against Staphylococcus aureus. They prescribe drugs only as “helpers” to antibiotics.

Breastfeeding is an important and responsible process. Only with natural feeding, the child develops fully and acquires immunity from many diseases. With mother's milk, he receives all the vitamins and minerals necessary for development. But is breast milk always safe for a baby? What is staphylococcus, its symptoms and what analysis allows it to be detected in the mother? Let's ask the professionals.

What is this infection

Staphylococci of different types surround a person throughout his life. These bacteria can live perfectly both on the skin and inside a person, and bacteria are also found in the soil, on the surfaces of household items and in food. There are two groups of staphylococci, opportunistic and pathogenic.

Conditionally pathogenic bacteria in most cases do not pose a threat to human health and can exist with us throughout our lives without manifesting itself. Such bacteria include hemolytic, epidermal and saprophytic staphylococci. Neighborhood with them is not dangerous for humans, provided a strong immune system. As a result of weakened immunity, these bacteria can also cause the development of certain diseases.

Pathogenic microorganisms include Staphylococcus aureus. This is one of the most dangerous varieties of this class of microorganisms. Once in the human body, this bacterium can cause infectious and inflammatory diseases of various organs and tissues. For lactating women, infection with Staphylococcus aureus is dangerous with the possibility of developing infectious mastitis.

How infection occurs

This infection can be contracted in the following ways:

Airborne
By contact
Intrauterine method of infection

Airborne infection most often occurs in medical institutions under the condition of insufficient sanitization of wards and offices.

Contact infection can occur both by direct contact with the patient, and by the general use of household items.

Increase in leukocytes in the blood of a woman after childbirth

Intrauterine infection occurs from the mother of the carrier to the infant. As a result, a child is born with obvious signs of an infectious disease.

Staphylococcus aureus can enter breast milk through cracked nipples from a woman's skin. In this case, infectious mastitis may develop. Often, women do not even suspect that they are infected with this infection and staphylococcus aureus is detected already in the presence of the disease in a child.

Signs of staph infection in mother's milk

Staphylococcus in the milk of a nursing mother symptoms in a baby:

Conjunctivitis. It is manifested by suppuration of the eyes, redness and swelling of the eyelids, increased sensitivity to sunlight. With this infection, the baby's eyes stick together after sleep, and often he cannot open them on his own.

Enterocolitis. It is manifested by a violation of the stool, fever and vomiting in an infant. The stool in this disease has a mucous or mushy consistency.

Phlegnoma. Accumulation of pus in the subcutaneous tissue. Signs of the disease are swelling at the site of infection, redness of the skin, pain when touched.

Pemphigus. This disease is extremely dangerous. It can turn into sepsis with untimely treatment. The disease is expressed by the appearance of small bubbles filled with liquid. Localization of rashes is usually in the lower abdomen, on the back and in the folds of the neck.

Also, an infected child may face an abscess and sepsis.

When treatment is needed

As practice shows, with the normal development of the baby, the dangerous consequences of infection with Staphylococcus aureus through mother's milk can be avoided.

Most often, the development of infectious diseases occurs in children with weakened immunity and in babies born prematurely.

To a greater extent, the infection carries a danger for a young mother. Infectious mastitis is a complex disease and requires medical treatment.

If there is any suspicion of infection, an analysis of the mother's milk should be ordered. According to the results of the analysis, the doctor prescribes treatment. However, a positive analysis also cannot always indicate the presence of infection in the mother, because it requires absolute sterility, which is very difficult to achieve even in a scientific laboratory. Staphylococcus aureus in nursing mothers is not rare, but there are ways to prevent this disease. First of all, prevention comes down to the full care of the nipples. Do a breast self-assessment. Avoid the appearance of cracks and chafing, and when they appear, take measures to disinfect and heal the nipples.

It is also necessary to follow the basic rules of hygiene. It is necessary to wash the chest with soap 1 time per day. Wash your hands before each feeding and change your underwear more often, which must be ironed with a hot iron. Following these simple rules will help prevent infection from entering the body of the mother and child.

To wean or not to wean

Previously, the presence of this infection in the analysis of milk became the categorical decision of doctors to wean the baby from the breast. Today, doctors are in no hurry to interrupt breastfeeding. The disease is perfectly treated without the use of antibiotics with the help of herbal disinfectants.

Today, even the presence of infectious mastitis is not a reason for weaning.

Modern antibiotics used in this case are fully compatible with breastfeeding.

Of course, you need to monitor your health and, if necessary, do an analysis of milk, but you should not attribute every ailment of the baby to the presence of an infection. If your child does not show obvious signs of infection, there is no need to panic. A timely visit to the pediatrician and the delivery of all necessary tests will ensure the rapid identification of possible infections, and hence the speedy recovery of the crumbs.

During breastfeeding, a woman faces a lot of problems, one of which can be staphylococcus aureus in breast milk. Any breastfeeding mother immediately begins to panic, as the bacterium can question breastfeeding. However, not everything is as simple as it might seem at first glance. What to do if staphylococcus aureus is found in breast milk?

What is staphylococcus

Staphylococcus is a type of bacterium that most often affects the human body. They can be found in the ground, in the air, as well as on the skin or mucous membranes of a person. A certain amount of staphylococcus is considered acceptable, as it is considered the usual opportunistic flora living on the skin and mucous membranes. Staphylococcus can cause the development of the disease in the event that a person's immunity falls, and the protective function is reduced to a minimum. The causative agents of diseases can be such types of staphylococcus:

epidermal
hemolytic
Saprophytic
Golden

Separately, it is worth mentioning Staphylococcus aureus. Although it is classified as a conditionally dangerous type, it can become the most dangerous of all of the above.

There is a list of diseases that Staphylococcus aureus can cause:

Angina
Rash with pus
Inflammation of the conjunctiva
Staphylococcus aureus in breast milk can cause mastitis in a woman during lactation.

How does staphylococcus affect breast milk

If staphylococcus aureus is found in milk, treatment is prescribed for both the nursing mother and the child who is breastfeeding. Doctors often recommend not breastfeeding for a period of antibiotic therapy until the bacterial culture is negative. Currently, medicine has proven that such a position is unreasonable and even erroneous. The fact is that there are myths about staphylococcus, which often mislead us. Let's consider them in more detail:

The presence of staphylococcus signals a serious illness.

This is not true, or rather not always. In every second case, after deciding to take tests, the detection of a pathogenic bacterium as a result of the analysis is an error or a false positive result. The fact is that one or another staphylococcus is the norm and is present in small quantities in any analysis. As for breast milk, a pathogenic bacterium often gets there from the skin of the palms or the skin of the mammary glands.

Staphylococcus aureus and other species are subject to immediate treatment.

It is important to monitor the health of the mother and baby. If neither the first nor the second do not feel signs of illness, you should not stop lactation, since there are no good and reliable reasons for this. A distinctive feature of domestic medicine are referrals for research “just in case” or “for prevention”, this is unacceptable and can become a pseudo reason for unrest. Be aware that breast milk is not inherently sterile. This is due to the fact that many bacteria can live on the skin and in the ducts of the nipples, which are a variant of the norm and do not need to be treated with drugs. Based on the experience of European countries with developed medicine, bacteriological examination of breast milk for the presence of staphylococcus in it is in principle not appropriate, therefore, it has not been carried out for a long time without direct indications for this.

Staphylococcus aureus in breast milk is dangerous for the life of mother and child.

Even if, after the analysis, you received results indicating the presence of pathogenic bacteria in milk, this is not a reason to panic, they need to be checked again. As mentioned earlier, in the absence of signs of malaise, fever or chest pain, it is not advisable to take any treatment.

Staphylococcus can give rise to the development of serious diseases in a baby.

Despite the fact that such an opinion exists and is actively spreading from mother to mother, there is no scientific justification for this opinion. Medicine is not aware of such a case when staphylococcus, which is in breast milk, became the cause of the development of serious pathologies in infants. This bacterium can make itself felt only when the child's immunity is reduced and its own bacterial flora becomes pathogenic for him.

It is important to know that staphylococcus in breast milk appears from the focus of inflammation located on the body of a nursing woman, or the reason for its detection in the analysis for bacteriological culture may be its entry from the surface of the skin. In this case, the bacterium itself is not able to multiply in milk.

What are the ways of getting staphylococcus into milk

There are several ways to get infected with staphylococcus aureus.

By air

Most often, this method of spreading staphylococcus can be found in hospitals or maternity hospitals. Importantly, hospital bacteria are the most dangerous for the human body due to the fact that they are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics. How to fight and control the spread of such infections? First of all, it is necessary to comply with hygienic and sanitary standards in hospital wards, carrying out timely cleaning, disinfection measures, including mandatory periodic quartz treatment.

contact method

You can become infected with staphylococcus aureus with a banal handshake or an innocent kiss on the cheek. In addition, danger can lie in wait for other people's household items (towels, cups, slippers, and so on), as well as furniture, railings, and even elevator buttons. Unfortunately, this method is the most difficult to prevent because we cannot create a sterile environment around us. To minimize the risk of staphylococcus infection in this way, it is worth washing your hands thoroughly and treating them with an antiseptic when access to water is limited.

Route of infection from mother to child

If a woman was a carrier of staphylococcus during pregnancy, it is highly likely that the newborn baby will be a carrier of the infection of the same type as the mother. Moreover, the symptoms of the disease can appear already in the first days after the birth of the child. Usually, the infection develops in carious cavities located in the throat, as well as in the large and small intestines.

As for the cause of the appearance of staphylococcus in breast milk, most often it appears there due to the presence of numerous cracks in the nipples. The fact is that injured skin is an ideal environment for activating conditionally pathogenic flora, which multiplies rapidly, being in an ideal state of moisture and constant heat.

What contributes to the development of staphylococcal infection

In order for staphylococcus to not take root in the body of the baby and mother, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to prevention. With regards to lactation, a nursing mother should carefully monitor the condition of the mammary glands, and if there are wounds and cracks, treat them with medications in a timely manner.

The development of staphylococcal diseases is more likely under such conditions:

The long-awaited baby was born ahead of schedule
The child has a chronic disease
Breast milk is not the main food of the crumbs

What conditions signal the presence of staphylococcus in milk

Staphylococcal infection cannot be asymptomatic, it can be detected by such manifestations and ailments:

Enterocolitis in a child

This disease is manifested by frequent stools, which have a mushy appearance and consistency, often with an admixture of mucus. Also, the baby may suffer from spasmodic pain in the abdomen.

Conjunctivitis in a baby

It manifests itself in the form of swelling of the eyelid, purulent discharge from the eyes and frequent uncontrolled lacrimation. Mothers often note that in the morning the child cannot open his eyes on his own due to the fact that accumulated pus on the cilia prevents this.

Sepsis

This is the most severe course of streptococcal infection, in which a lot of ulcers and abscesses appear on the baby's body, malfunctions in the work of the heart appear, exhalation and inhalation are difficult, and there are also violations of the work of the heart.

All of the above conditions require the provision of emergency medical care, since in especially advanced cases, without treatment, they are fraught with death. In such cases, self-treatment is strictly contraindicated, it is necessary to go to the hospital so that the treatment is adequate and is provided in full.

Is it possible to continue feeding with a staph infection

This question is of interest to every nursing mother in whose breast milk staphylococcus was found. There is no single answer, since each individual situation must be considered strictly individually.

Most often, provided that the baby is healthy, the infection is neutralized by the local microflora located in the intestines of the baby. Also, do not forget that breast milk contains unique immunoglobulins that form the immunity of a little man and at the same time protect him from pathogenic bacteria.

When is staphylococcus to be treated?

There are situations when delaying the treatment of a staphylococcal infection is dangerous for the health and life of the mother and child:

Mastitis

With infectious mastitis, breastfeeding is not canceled, on the contrary, as part of therapy, more frequent attachment of the baby to the mammary gland affected by this disease is shown. Moreover, not every mastitis is treated with antibiotics. Even if you cannot do without it, try to choose those medicines that do not stand in the way of breastfeeding (this is indicated in the instructions).

Symptoms of staphylococcus aureus in a child

In the case when the symptoms of the disease appear in the baby, he is weaned when the concentration of the bacterium exceeds the maximum permissible values.

It is not always necessary to treat staphylococcus with antimicrobial agents, this opinion is now supported by the majority of gynecologists and pediatricians, headed by E.O. Komarovsky. Most often, to correct the health of the mother, it is enough to apply topical ointments or creams that are applied directly to the nipple area and the place near them. Chlorophyllipt and Rotokan, which are considered one of the best antiseptics that do not adversely affect the quality and composition of breast milk, do an excellent job with this role. After their use, cracks in the nipples will significantly decrease, as well as the result of the analysis for bacterial culture, which must be passed, will improve.

The birth of a long-awaited baby brings not only great happiness, but also many difficulties. One of the problems that young mothers may encounter even in the hospital room of the maternity hospital is staphylococcus aureus in breast milk. If it is suddenly discovered, some doctors insist on immediately stopping breastfeeding and starting antibiotics. Others, on the contrary, require an increase in the number of feedings and do not prescribe any treatment. Which of them is right? Where did staphylococcus in milk come from? How to get rid of it? Why is it dangerous for the baby? Let's see what the experts think about this.

Meet Staphylococcus in all its glory

This microbe was named staphylococcus, starting from the Greek words “stafili”, which means “grapes”, and “cocci”, that is, “grains”. Staphylococci have the appearance of round grains, gathering in colonies, similar to bunches of grapes. There are 27 species in their family, but only four are pathogenic.

1. Staphylococcus aureus. It is found in breast milk more often than other species.

2. Epidermal (causes sepsis and epidermitis).

4. Hemolytic (provokes purulent inflammation of the skin, sepsis and a number of other ailments).

Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous because it can cause the greatest number of diseases and affect the skin, mucous membranes, lungs, brain and bone marrow, and the digestive tract. This type of microbe is also dangerous because it has managed to adapt in the best possible way to all measures to combat it. So, there is a group of Staphylococcus aureus called methicillin-resistant. Its representatives are immune to penicillins and cephalosporins, oxacillins, methicillins. Their harmfulness lies in the fact that they are unusually tenacious, do not die in the sun, are stored dry, can endure boiling temperatures up to 150 degrees for 10 minutes, do not mind “swimming” in medical alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide is converted into their food.

Where does staphylococcus come from in the maternity hospital

According to statistics, each of us has several million bacteria. They populated all the niches of the environment. Staphylococcus is also ubiquitous. It is in the air, in the water, in the earth, on the surfaces we touch. Moreover, he lives in us and on us. Therefore, it is impossible to completely get rid of it. Staphylococcus infection can occur anywhere. In the maternity hospital, it is found on poorly processed instruments, on the snow-white gowns of the medical staff, on any surface, just in the air. Of course, it is present on the body of women in labor and on their clothes. Nurses and nurses regularly sanitize, but no matter how thorough it may be, new staphylococci very quickly repopulate the room. They are brought in by attendants or the medical staff themselves, they arrive in the ward with food or with things brought for the mother or for the baby.
You can catch staphylococcus aureus in the following ways:

through the toolkit;
airborne;
contact;
with poorly processed food.

You should not panic about this, because these microbes do not always cause diseases.

How do staphylococci get into breast milk?

Many are perplexed: where can staphylococcus in breast milk come from if the woman in labor is absolutely healthy? As we have already described, this microbe is everywhere, even in those maternity hospitals where thorough sanitation is regularly carried out. On the body of mothers, he also breeds with pleasure. To avoid it at all, a woman in labor should change clothes several times a day, and wear only boiled and ironed ones, and in addition, bathe daily. In practice, this is difficult to implement. It is much easier to wash your breasts and hands thoroughly before each feeding. Previously, in maternity hospitals, they additionally demanded to wipe the nipples with a solution of furacilin before feeding. Especially carefully it is necessary to process the nipple, on which cracks have formed. In these cases, staphylococci sitting on the skin and clothes easily get into the wounds and immediately begin to multiply there. Without treatment, a woman can develop a dangerous disease - infectious mastitis. Staphylococcus in breast milk appears precisely from these wounds and milk ducts infected with a microbe. Another reason is the presence of this infection in the body of a pregnant woman left without treatment. In this case, the microbe enters the milk through the lymphatic vessels. Sometimes a woman does not even suspect that there is a staphylococcal infection in her body, it is so sluggish and asymptomatic.

Who is staphylococcus dangerous for?

Microorganisms present in breast milk first enter the child's mouth, and then into his gastrointestinal tract, but pathological conditions do not always occur. Mother's milk, being the richest source of vitamins, among other things, supplies the child with important antibodies that successfully fight microbes, including staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, most children's organisms do not react in any way to the presence of these microbes. They can cause disease in such children:

premature;
born with pathologies;
very weak, low weight;
receiving complementary foods from the first days of life.

Staphylococcus in infants: symptoms of damage to internal organs and mucous membranes

A dangerous microbe can infect the baby's mucous membranes. In this case, the following signs appear:

temperature;
cough;
"lined" mouth;
coryza with purulent discharge.

If staphylococcus enters the baby's digestive tract, enterocolitis begins. Its symptoms:

liquid frequent stools with mucus;
refusal to eat, capriciousness;
bloating;
vomit;
increased anxiety;
colic;
temperature.

Most often in infants infected with staphylococcus aureus, conjunctivitis is observed. Signs of the disease:

souring of the eyes (when waking up, the baby finds it difficult to open them);
redness and swelling of the eyelids;
temperature.

If such symptoms appear, you need to consult a doctor, and not engage in self-diagnosis and treatment with folk methods in the form of eyewashes, because staphylococcus aureus driven inside will develop further.

Signs of staphylococcal skin lesions

Various kinds of rashes can also indicate staphylococcus aureus in infants. Symptoms of skin lesions often indicate such ailments:

1. Phlegmon. At the same time, the crumbs have an elevated temperature, reddened swellings are observed on the skin, to the touch of which the child reacts very painfully.

2. Abscess. It is also accompanied by fever, capriciousness, refusal of food. Pustules spread throughout the body. The skin around them becomes inflamed. When pressed, yellow-green pus flows out of them.

3. Pemphigus. Starting with a few blisters that many parents take for a benign allergic reaction to diapers, this disease, if not properly treated, turns into sepsis. Signs of "dangerous" bubbles are common: the capriciousness of the child, fever, unwillingness to eat.

4. Sepsis. This terrible disease often causes not staphylococcus in breast milk, but infection of the umbilical wound by medical staff or mother. Also, other, milder diseases, already caused by staphylococcus in milk, can develop into sepsis.

Diagnostics

If staphylococcus aureus is suspected, the following tests are taken from the baby:

sowing from the nasopharynx;
skin scraping;
blood test (from a finger);
stool culture;
mucus bakposev.

An analysis of breast milk for staphylococcus is also carried out, but its positive result is not decisive. The fact is that you need to take the analysis in a 100% sterile environment, which is almost impossible to achieve in our laboratories.

To quit or not to quit breastfeeding

A number of doctors insist that if staphylococcus is detected, breastfeeding should be stopped, the mother should be treated with antibiotics, and only when the titers are completely free of staphylococcus, continue to breastfeed the baby. Most doctors, including the famous pediatrician Komarovsky, do not share this opinion. Mother's milk contains antibodies that are not found in any infant formula. They protect the child not only from staphylococcus aureus, but also from other dangerous microbes. Therefore, it is necessary to continue breastfeeding the baby. Of course, a woman is obliged to carefully comply with all hygiene requirements. Doctors recommend switching to artificial feeding only in especially severe cases, when a woman is diagnosed with severe diseases caused by staphylococci.

Breastfeeding for infectious mastitis

This disease often affects women who have given birth for the first time, because they do not immediately know how to properly attach the baby to the breast and control the arrival of milk in the mammary gland. In the first case, wounds appear on the nipple, which are immediately populated by staphylococci. In the second case, milk stagnates, lactostasis begins, and breast tissues become inflamed. If inflammation has begun, and at the same time staphylococcus aureus is found in breast milk, a woman needs not only not to stop feeding, but, on the contrary, to apply the baby to her breast more often than usual. In some cases, additional pumping is required after feeding. Sometimes, according to the testimony of a woman, an incision is made on her chest so that the pus gets out. At the same time, a course of therapy with antibiotics is carried out. It is necessary to interrupt breastfeeding only if pus is released from the nipple along with milk. Then the breast is emptied with a breast pump, and after the disappearance of pus, lactation is continued again.

Treatment

Antibiotics against staphylococcus, especially aureus, are not easy to pick up. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you need to do an antibiogram. Basically, doctors prescribe Clarithromycin, Lincomycin, Azithromycin, Roxithromycin, Vancomycin, but these drugs may not be suitable for getting rid of methicillin-resistant streptococci.

Good results are obtained with preparations of bacteriophages that "work" with all groups of bacteria.

In the complex, doctors can prescribe probiotics and immunostimulants.

Ordinary brilliant green kills staphylococcus ideally, so it is imperative to lubricate the nipples if they have wounds.

This page contains the most popular posts and comments of our users on the topic "Staphylococcus epidermidis in breast milk". This will help you quickly get an answer to your question, and you can also take part in the discussion.

About seeding breast milk for sterility “Sowing milk for sterility”, aka “milk bacteriological testing”, aka “Bacteriological examination of breast milk”, etc. Insanely popular analysis in the countries of the former CIS. An insane amount of questions about him on the forum and in everyday practice. There is no number of wasted nerves of mothers, drunk antibiotics and bacteriophages, pricked ...

Girls who donated milk for analysis, help me figure it out!!! Today they took the results, here's what it says: “right-staphylococcus epidermidis V / ml 130 CFU Not mass growth, left-staphylococcus epidermidis V / ml 160 CFU Not mass growth. In the laboratory they said that the milk is normal, but they didn’t explain anything naturally !!! (I took the test because my daughter found dysbacteriosis and staphylococcus aureus) How do I ...

It never ceases to amaze me how many people in different parts of the world have no idea about the animals that live side by side with them. J. Darrell Guys, let's live together! A. HaytKokki are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos is translated as “seed”). Hundreds of the most diverse cocci surround a person throughout his life, but no, ...

Staphylococcus It never ceases to amaze me how many people in different parts of the world have no idea about the animals that live side by side with them. J. Darrell Guys, let's live together! A. HaytKokki are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos is translated as "seed"). Hundreds of the most diverse cocci surround a person throughout his life, ...

Cocci are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos is translated as "seed"). Hundreds of the most diverse cocci surround a person throughout his life, but perhaps there is no microbe more famous than staphylococcus aureus. The microbiological term staphylococcus was introduced into medical practice back in 1881. Under the microscope, you can see that cocci gather in groups, ...

Breast milk is the ideal food for a newborn. Milk contains vitamins and elements necessary for the full growth and development of the baby. Therefore, it is important for a nursing mother to take care of the quality of milk and periodically take an analysis. After all, breast milk can contain various bacteria, from completely harmless to quite dangerous.

Staphylococci are common in humans. It tends to spread rapidly in the body with a weakened immune system and infect internal organs and tissues. The fungus can be found on the skin and mucous membranes, in the intestines and breast milk.

Characterization of bacteria

A medical analysis will tell you about the presence of bacteria in milk. At the same time, staphylococcus does not always cause health problems. With good immunity of a nursing mother, it is safe for the baby, since antibodies in breast milk simply block bactericidal substances.

But it should be borne in mind that the woman's body is depleted after childbirth, and immunity, most often, is weakened. Then staphylococcus begins to multiply and poison the body with toxins. As a result, the risk of skin inflammation, blood poisoning (sepsis), pneumonia, meningitis and other organ damage increases. In this case, it is necessary to start treatment.

Most often, staphylococci are harmless and do not manifest themselves in any way. However, with an unfavorable microflora, they multiply, infect and poison the body with harmful substances and cause dangerous diseases, including thrush and E. coli. The development and reproduction of bacteria is facilitated by weak immunity, injuries and operations, and intestinal dysbacteriosis.

Staphylococcus aureus - a danger to mom and baby!

Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous type of infection. Such bacteria have microcapsules and golden color. They quickly penetrate into tissues and organs, where they form toxic enzymes. Such substances destroy the internal structure of cells and cause a number of dangerous diseases.

The main reason for the occurrence of fungus in breast milk is cracks and sores on the nipples, through which bacteria penetrate.

The following symptoms will help determine the presence of staphylococcus aureus:

Painful cracks and abrasions on the nipples;
Inflammation of the mammary glands;
Intense throbbing chest pains;
Discharge of pus from the nipples;
Heat;
Rapid fatigue and malaise.

If you find these symptoms, immediately do an analysis and start treatment. Staphylococcus aureus in breast milk causes many ailments and diseases in mothers and babies.

Consequences of Staphylococcus aureus

To get rid of the infection, a long and carefully selected treatment is required. Staphylococcus aureus is very resistant and cannot be treated with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Only a doctor can prescribe treatment for staphylococcus aureus!

Epidermal staphylococcus aureus

Epidermal staphylococcus (staphylococcus epidermidis) lives on the skin. isolated dozens of varieties of these bacteria that do not harm humans. These bacteria are found on the skin and pass into the milk when expressed. A skin infection is not dangerous and does not lead to serious illness. And the presence of such bacteria in milk does not interfere with breastfeeding.

Symptoms:

With stagnation of milk and seals, a nursing mother should definitely consult a doctor. If not properly treated, lactostasis will lead to serious diseases, one of which is mastitis.

How to determine the presence of bacteria in milk: we pass the analysis

If you have concerns about the presence of dangerous bacteria in breast milk, you need to get tested. Take and boil two jars for 40 minutes. Wash your hands and nipples thoroughly, wipe your breasts with a paper towel,

Start expressing milk. How to express milk with your hands, the recommendations from this article will tell you. Skip the first 10 ml and start collecting milk from the right breast into one jar, and from the left into another. It is necessary to hand over milk for analysis within three hours.

Also, if a staphylococcal infection is suspected, a stool sample is taken from the baby. For the reliability of the result, the procedure is repeated two or three times in two days.

If your fears are confirmed, don't panic! See your doctor for the right treatment. With such an infection, you can continue to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is stopped only if a woman has purulent mastitis.

Prevention and treatment

We remind you that only a doctor prescribes treatment! It is important that the drugs taken are compatible with lactation and do not harm the baby. Antibiotics, which are contraindicated during breastfeeding, often help with such infections.

To support the microflora and destroy harmful bacteria, a nursing mother is prescribed probiotics and plant-based antiseptics. Popular drugs are rotokan and chlorophyllipt. Solutions are used to wipe the nipples for two to three weeks. Such funds are safe for babies and do not require cessation of breastfeeding.

To prevent contamination of milk, it is necessary to follow the recommendations for compliance with the rules of feeding and preventive measures:

It is necessary to establish proper breastfeeding. Feed your baby on demand, not on schedule. Apply the baby in the right position, make sure that it captures the nipple and areola;
Follow the hygiene of the nipples and breasts! Wash twice a day using only neutral liquid soap. Dry your breasts with paper towels or tissues. Ordinary soap and towels irritate the nipples;
If cracks or abrasions appear on the nipples, use special compresses, ointments and gels for the chest. What remedies for cracked nipples can be used during lactation, read here;
To prevent cracks, use solutions of vitamins A and E. They increase skin elasticity, prevent injuries and promote rapid recovery.
Use comfortable, soft underwear while breastfeeding that won't chafe or nip into your nipples.
Put special liners in your bra that absorb excess fluid. Be sure to change your pads when they get wet!
Regularly check the breast for lumps and milk stasis;
Food is often the cause of the infection. A breastfeeding mother should carefully plan her diet. Remove sweets and flour products from the menu, as they create a favorable area for the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Tips from the article “Nutrition after childbirth” will help to create the right menu for lactation.

Proper organization of breastfeeding the baby and the nutrition of the nursing mother will prevent staphylococcus aureus in breast milk. Don't forget to take care of your baby!

Often during the study, staphylococcus aureus is found in the breast milk of a nursing mother. It turns out that mother's milk is not always beneficial. If you suspect any violation in the process of feeding, you should contact a specialist. The analysis of breast milk for sterility will bring clarity to the solution of the problem.

Description of the problem

Various types of staphylococcus live in breast milk - microorganisms that belong to the conditionally pathogenic sphere of man. Staphylococcus can be found everywhere - in the air, on the skin, in products, in the internal organs of a person.

At the same time, it does not make itself felt for a long time, but if favorable conditions have been created, the abundant spread of these microbes begins. This can lead to serious illness.

This microorganism begins to multiply in such cases as:

lowered immunity;
colds and any other infectious diseases;
coli;
dysbacteriosis;
transferred operations.

With the spread and increase in the number of microbes, intoxication of the body occurs. There are complications - pneumonia, meningitis, blood poisoning.

The most dangerous microbe found in breast milk is Staphylococcus aureus.

It can release harmful toxic substances that destroy healthy cells in the body. Causes purulent diseases.
Reduces the body's defenses.
Develops rapid resistance to antibiotics.
Pathogenic microbes can be spread by airborne droplets. Infection can also be in utero.
The disease can start several times.

Staphylococcus aureus causes certain disorders in the body:

various purulent skin diseases (pustules, boils);
disorders of the digestive system (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain);
inflammatory, infectious diseases of the nasopharynx (tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis);
eye diseases (conjunctivitis).

If epidermal staphylococcus aureus was found in the composition of milk, the analysis should be retaken. Before this, you need to follow all hygiene rules, since a similar type of bacteria could get from the upper layers of the skin. In addition, doctors allow a small amount of this type of staphylococcus aureus in breast milk.

How to recognize staphylococcus aureus

The entry comes from the external environment. On the nipples, especially in the first weeks of feeding, many cracks form, through which bacteria penetrate into breast milk. Only a special analysis will help to accurately determine their presence.

The main symptoms of the presence of staphylococcus aureus in breast milk:

microcracks appear on the nipples, which cause pain and discomfort;
throbbing severe chest pain indicates the development of an inflammatory process;
purulent discharge from the nipples;
if Staphylococcus aureus is observed in breast milk, then fever, weakness and loss of appetite may be added to the symptoms.

The child also has loss of appetite, diarrhea, lack of weight gain.

Study of breast milk for sterility

To get the right result of the study, you need to prepare. Breast milk for analysis is delivered to the laboratory immediately after collection.

To collect breast milk, certain rules must be followed.

Milk from the right and left breasts is collected in separate containers.
The container must be sterile, for which it must be boiled for several minutes. Jars can be bought at a pharmacy.
Hands and nipples should be thoroughly washed and dried with a clean towel.
Discard the first few mg of milk. For analysis, 10 ml from each breast is sufficient.

A complete analysis of breast milk is ready a week after delivery. It is this time that is enough for sowing bacteria and their maturation. After staphylococcus aureus has been discovered, a study of their resistance to various antibiotics is being carried out. In parallel, you can analyze the feces for the presence of staphylococcus aureus in the child's body.

Treatment of the disease

Even if pathogenic microorganisms have been detected, breastfeeding of the child does not stop. When the analysis of breast milk is carried out, medications that are safe for the baby's body are prescribed. Doctors forbid feeding in the presence of purulent mastitis.

If these bacteria are found, then the nipples should be treated with antiseptics (chlorophyllipt, bacteriophage). Chlorophyllipt can be administered to the mother and inside.
When feeding a baby, you should use special nipple pads that will reduce pain and the likelihood of transferring germs to the baby.
Antibiotics are prescribed. Your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding during treatment, but in most cases this is not required.
Complex of vitamins and minerals.
Drugs that increase immunity.
Restoration of the hormonal background.

For the treatment of a child, probiotics are prescribed, which contribute to the restoration of the intestinal sphere. If staphylococcus is detected in a child, antibiotic therapy is performed.

If alarming symptoms appear, it is better to go to the hospital and donate milk for examination.

Prevention

Cracks in the nipples can appear for various reasons - for example, improper attachment of the baby to the breast, or when he was taught to bottle feed from the first hours of life. To avoid sores on the nipples, you need to follow certain rules.

Immediately after the birth of the child, it must be applied to the breast.
Breastfeeding is on demand.
It is necessary to breastfeed the child to the last - you should not grab a bottle for any problem.
It is not recommended to wash the mammary glands with soap - it dries the skin and can cause cracking.
You should not eat fried, sweet and spicy foods, as they create a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.
You can treat the nipples with solutions that contain vitamins A and E, which prevent the appearance of cracks and wounds.

If the mother begins to feed with mixtures, then this is an additional burden on the digestive system of the baby's body. There may be a violation of the stool, a rash may appear.

Do not give up breastfeeding, because it is the main source of increasing the immune forces of the child's body. Milk helps to strengthen the internal organs of the baby, the formation of the intestinal flora is faster. No other remedy can replace the nutrients and vitamins found in breast milk.