Breastmilk handling routines for preterm infants in Sweden: a national cross-sectional study

In Sweden preterm infants born <32 gestational weeks are fed maternal breastmilk or, if not available, donor breastmilk. Nutritional and immunological composition of human milk is affected by processing and storage procedures. Additionally, freezing of breastmilk may reduce cytomegalovirus transmission. The present recommendations for human milk use in Sweden are outdated. However, new guidelines to standardize routines are underway. This study was designed to document current routines pertaining to breastmilk use for preterm infants in Sweden.

A questionnaire regarding breastmilk handling and routines was sent to all 36 neonatal units in Sweden in November 2006 and February 2007.

Of the 36 participating neonatal units 27 had their own milk bank. Milk donors were screened for human immunodeficiency virus, human T-lymphotropic virus, and hepatitis B and C viruses by 27, 14, and 22 of the milk banks, respectively. Bacterial culture was performed on donor milk in 24 milk banks. Donor milk was pasteurized in 22 milk banks. In 11 of the 36 neonatal units maternal milk was frozen to reduce the risk of cytomegalovirus transmission. No neonatal unit performed bacterial culture or pasteurization of maternal milk. Breast milk was kept frozen for a maximum of 3-6 months before use. Nutritional analysis of donor and/or maternal milk was performed in 25 units. All neonatal units enriched donor milk and maternal milk.

Routines for breastmilk handling differ among the 36 neonatal units in Sweden. New guidelines can standardize the handling of human milk, thereby improving nutrition and minimizing the risk of breastmilk-induced infection in the preterm infant.