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Eradication of Cytomegalovirus from Human Milk by Microwave Irradiation: A Pilot Study
Moshe Ben-Shoshan1,2, Dror Mandel1,2,3, Ronit Lubetzky1,2,3
11 Department of Neonatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center , Tel Aviv, Israel .
Background:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected human milk (HM) can lead to significant CMV morbidity and mortality in preterm very-low-birth weight infants. The eradication of CMV in HM while preserving its properties poses a major clinical challenge.
Objective:
We aimed to compare two methods used to neutralize the virus in HM, one recognized as partially effective (freezing) and another not tested to date (microwave exposure).
Materials And Methods:
We sampled HM from 31 CMV-seropositive mothers whose infants were hospitalized at the Lis Maternity Hospital. Fifteen samples that were positive for CMV antigen were divided into five 5 mL aliquots: the first a control, the second was frozen at -20°C for 1 day, the third was frozen at -200°C for 3 days, and the fourth and fifth aliquots were exposed for 30 seconds to microwave radiation at a low-power setting (500 W) and high-power setting (750 W), respectively.
Results:
Only microwave radiation at a high-power setting led to complete neutralization of CMV in all samples. Low-power microwave irradiation had a 13% failure rate while 3-day freezing and 1-day freezing had failure rates of 7% and 20%, respectively.
Conclusion:
It is possible to eradicate CMV successfully in HM by using microwave radiation at a high-power setting. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of microwave heating on breast milk properties.
Insights
High-power microwave irradiation effectively neutralizes Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in human milk (HM), offering a promising method for infant safety. This technique eradicates the virus while preserving essential milk properties for vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Infectious disease control
- Human milk research
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in human milk (HM) poses significant health risks, including morbidity and mortality, to preterm very-low-birth weight infants.
- Eradicating CMV from HM while maintaining its nutritional and immunological properties presents a substantial clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of high-power microwave irradiation versus freezing for neutralizing CMV in human milk.
- To evaluate a novel method (microwave exposure) against a standard method (freezing) for CMV inactivation in HM.
Main Methods:
- Human milk samples from 31 CMV-seropositive mothers were collected.
- Fifteen CMV-positive samples were divided and subjected to: control, 1-day freezing (-20°C), 3-day freezing (-200°C), low-power microwave (500W, 30s), and high-power microwave (750W, 30s).
Main Results:
- High-power microwave irradiation (750W) achieved complete CMV neutralization in all tested samples.
- Freezing methods showed varying failure rates: 20% for 1-day, 7% for 3-day. Low-power microwave had a 13% failure rate.
Conclusions:
- High-power microwave irradiation is a successful method for eradicating CMV in human milk.
- Further research is required to assess the impact of microwave heating on the overall properties of human milk.
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