What bacteria turns breast milk pink?

The Mystery of Pink Breast Milk: Serratia marcescens
Breast milk is often celebrated for its nutritional benefits and its role in fostering a healthy microbiome in infants. However, a rare and alarming phenomenon can occur: the milk can turn a striking shade of pink. This unusual discoloration is primarily attributed to the presence of a bacterium known as Serratia marcescens.
What is Serratia marcescens?
Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic bacterium commonly found in various environments, including hospitals and homes. It is known for its ability to thrive in moist conditions, often residing in places like soap dishes and sinks. While it is generally considered benign in healthy individuals, it can pose significant risks, particularly to vulnerable populations such as newborns and those with weakened immune systems.
How Does It Affect Breast Milk?
The presence of Serratia marcescens in breast milk can lead to a vivid pink coloration. This change is not merely cosmetic; it signals a potential health risk. The bacterium has been associated with serious infections, including pneumonia, sepsis, and even encephalitis, which can be fatal in infants. When mothers notice a change in the color of their breast milk, especially to pink, it is crucial to seek medical advice and consider stopping breastfeeding until the issue is resolved.
The Implications for New Mothers
For new mothers, the sight of pink breast milk can be alarming. While color changes in breast milk can occur for various benign reasons—such as dietary influences or minor ruptures in blood vessels—pink milk specifically linked to Serratia marcescens is a cause for concern. Health professionals emphasize the importance of monitoring any unusual changes in breast milk and consulting with healthcare providers to ensure both mother and baby remain healthy.
Conclusion
In summary, while breast milk is a vital source of nutrition and immune support for infants, the appearance of pink milk should not be taken lightly. Serratia marcescens, though often overlooked, can lead to serious health complications. Awareness and prompt action are essential for safeguarding the health of both mothers and their newborns.

Can babies drink pink breast milk?

“Pink or light red milk is safe to feed your baby. Bright red milk caused by an active bleed is also safe, but it’s difficult to digest and might cause your baby to throw up,” Leibson told Today Parents. According to Verywell Family, breast milk is usually yellow, white, cream, clear, tan or tinted blue.

Is it safe to feed pink breast milk?

Continuing to see pink or red milk could mean an infection or breast cancer, according to Healthline. If your breast milk is black or brown, check with your doctor to ensure it’s safe to take medications and supplements while nursing.

What bacteria makes breast milk pink?

Conclusions Pink breast milk is caused by S. marsescens colonization. In such cases,early recognition and treatment before the development of infection is recommended to return to breastfeeding.

Why did my breast milk turn pink?

A small amount of maternal blood mixed in breastmilk can turn it into pink milk/strawberry milk. It is usually not harmful for the baby and it is not uncommon for mothers to encounter minor bleeding or blood tinged milk during breastfeeding/pumping. This can happen for multiple reasons.

Why does Serratia marcescens turn pink?

Some strains of S. marcescens are capable of producing pigment, the intensity of which ranges from dark red to pale pink, depending on the age of the colonies. The pigment can be present after incubation at room temperature but usually disappears after subculturing.

Why does my milk have a pink tint?

Food dyes used in carbonated sodas, fruit drinks, and gelatin desserts have been associated with milk that is pink or pinkish orange. Greenish milk has been linked to consuming green- colored sports beverages, seaweed, herbs, or large amounts of green vegetables (such as spinach).

Is Serratia marcescens harmful to babies?

S. marcescens gives rise to a wide range of clinical manifestations in newborns: from asymptomatic colonization to keratitis, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, surgical wound infections, sepsis, bloodstream infection and meningitis [6,7].

What are the symptoms of Serratia marcescens in infants?

It can turn expressed breast milk and soiled diapers pink in color. Pediatric outbreaks of marcescens have exhibited as bloodstream infection, conjunctivitis (eye infections), pneumonia, urinary tract infection, meningitis and surgical site infection.

What are the symptoms of Serratia marcescens in humans?

Symptoms may include fever, frequent urination, dysuria, pyuria, or pain upon urination. In 90% of cases, patients have a history of recent surgery or instrumentation of the urinary tract.

How harmful is Serratia marcescens?

More recently, Serratia marcescens has been found to be pathogenic to a small percentage of people, having been identified as a cause of urinary tract infections, wound infections, and pneumonia in hospital environments. Once established, the organism usually cannot be eliminated entirely.