Can you pass listeria through breast milk?

Understanding Listeria and Breastfeeding
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium responsible for listeriosis, poses significant health risks, particularly for pregnant women and their newborns. As concerns about foodborne illnesses continue to rise, many new mothers wonder about the potential transmission of listeria through breast milk.
Current Research and Findings
The question of whether listeria can be passed through breast milk remains somewhat ambiguous. According to recent studies, including one that examined the shedding of Listeria in infected mice, the dynamics of listeria transmission during breastfeeding are not fully understood. However, the consensus among health professionals is that the risk of transmitting listeria through breast milk is very low.
A fact sheet from Mother To Baby indicates that while it is not definitively clear if listeria can pass through breast milk, breastfeeding mothers diagnosed with listeriosis are advised to consult their healthcare providers for personalized guidance. This highlights the importance of professional medical advice in managing health risks during breastfeeding.
Expert Opinions
Experts suggest that listeria is not readily transmitted through breast milk. For instance, a source notes that the bacteria, commonly found in undercooked foods, does not easily transfer to infants via breastfeeding. Additionally, another source emphasizes that the risk of transmitting listeria to a newborn through breast milk is very low, allowing mothers to feel more secure about breastfeeding after exposure to potential listeria sources.
Conclusion
In summary, while the transmission of listeria through breast milk is not fully understood, current evidence suggests that the risk is minimal. Mothers who have been diagnosed with listeriosis should seek advice from healthcare professionals to ensure the safety of their breastfeeding practices. As always, maintaining a balanced diet and being cautious about food safety can help mitigate risks associated with listeria and other foodborne illnesses during this critical time.

What happens to baby if mom gets listeria?

Listeriosis can also lead to premature labor, the delivery of a low-birth-weight infant, or infant death. Fetuses who have a late infection may develop a wide range of health problems, including intellectual disability, paralysis, seizures, blindness, or impairments of the brain, heart, or kidney.

How do I know if my baby is affected by Listeria?

Signs and symptoms of a listeria infection in a newborn can be subtle, but can include: Little interest in feeding. Irritability. Fever.

Can food poisoning be passed through breast milk?

A nursing mother with diarrhea caused by food or water sources can continue to breastfeed her child. However, she should also increase her own fluid intake to prevent dehydration (loss of too much water in the body). The organisms that cause travelers’ diarrhea do not pass through breast milk.

Can things be passed through breast milk?

Since some infectious diseases can be passed on to the baby through human milk, you will certainly want to discuss your medical history with your doctor and your baby’s pediatrician. The good news is that, in most cases, breastfeeding can still be safe and beneficial for your baby.

What illnesses should you not breastfeed?

When Should I Not Breastfeed My Baby?

• If the mother has been infected with HIV or has AIDS.
• Many medications taken by the mother may pass onto the baby via breast milk.
• Mothers with cancer who are taking cancer chemotherapy medications also cannot breastfeed their babies.

Can diseases pass through breast milk?

Infectious organisms can reach the breast milk either by secretion in the fluid or cellular components of breast milk or by contamination of the milk at the time of or after expression. A reasonable mechanism of infection via breast milk should be evident and proved through either animal or human studies.

What STDs can be passed through breast milk?

If you have HIV, do not breastfeed. You can pass the virus to your baby. In countries like the United States where clean water is available, using a breastmilk substitute like formula is recommended. If you have chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HPV, you can breastfeed your baby.

Can Listeria be transferred to breastmilk?

No published information suggests transmission of Listeria monocytogenes through breast milk. Breastfeeding or use of expressed breast milk from the mother with Listeria infection is appropriate, including the selection of antimicrobial agents that are compatible with breastfeeding to treat the mother.

Can STDs be passed down from parents?

Many STDs such as AIDS/HIV, herpes, and syphilis can be passed on from mother to the baby at birth. STDs can also cause low birthweight and premature babies. Babies with infected mothers can have problems such as pneumonia, eye infections, and brain damage.

What bacteria can be passed through breast milk?

Infections can appear in breast milk in many ways. These routes to infection include the contamination of the milk after it leaves the breast, or by damaged cells or fluid in the breast milk itself. When breast milk becomes infected, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus are the most common bacteria found.