What infections are transmitted through breast milk?

Understanding Infections Transmitted Through Breast Milk
Breastfeeding is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that certain infections can be transmitted through breast milk, posing potential risks to newborns. This article delves into the types of infections that can be passed from mother to child via breastfeeding, highlighting the implications for maternal health and infant safety.
Viral Infections
Several viral infections are known to be transmitted through breast milk. Among the most significant are:
– Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): This virus can be present in breast milk, and breastfeeding is a known route of transmission from an infected mother to her infant. Guidelines recommend that mothers with HIV should consult healthcare providers to determine the safest feeding options for their babies.
– Cytomegalovirus (CMV): CMV is another virus that can be transmitted through breast milk. While most healthy infants may not experience severe effects, premature or immunocompromised infants are at a higher risk of developing complications.
– Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): This virus can also be transmitted through breast milk, although the risk is generally low if the infant receives appropriate vaccinations.
– Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I): This retrovirus can cause lifelong infection and is transmitted through breast milk. While most infants remain asymptomatic, there is a risk of developing serious health issues later in life.
Bacterial Infections
In addition to viral pathogens, certain bacterial infections can also be transmitted through breast milk. For instance, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is primarily transmitted in utero but can also be present in breast milk, potentially leading to infections in newborns.
Moreover, there have been documented cases of neonatal sepsis linked to breast milk, particularly in preterm infants. In these instances, the transmission of bacteria through breast milk has resulted in severe health outcomes, including fatalities.
Considerations for Mothers
For mothers with infections, it is essential to discuss their medical history with healthcare providers to assess the risks associated with breastfeeding. Conditions such as syphilis and herpes can complicate breastfeeding practices. Mothers with active sores on their breasts are advised to pump or hand-express milk to avoid direct contact with the infant.
Conclusion
While breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial practice, awareness of the potential transmission of infections through breast milk is vital. Mothers should be informed about the risks associated with specific infections and engage in open discussions with healthcare professionals to ensure the health and safety of their infants. By doing so, they can make informed decisions that balance the benefits of breastfeeding with the potential risks of infection transmission.

What STDs can be passed through breast milk?

The risk for transmission from mother to child varies significantly if the maternal infection is a primary infection (eg, herpes simplex virus [HSV], HIV1), a secondary (reactivation) infection (eg, HSV, CMV) or a chronic infection (eg, hepatitis B, HIV1, HTLV-I) during pregnancy or lactation.

What viruses pass through breast milk?

Virus Transmission through Breastfeeding

Virus family	Virus	Demonstrated transmission through breastfeeding
Flaviviridae	HCV	X if the nipples and/or surrounding areola are cracked and bleeding
Hepadnaviridae	HBV
Hepeviridae	HEV
Picornavirus	HAV

Can anything be transmitted through breast milk?

In most maternal viral infections, breast milk is not an important mode of transmission, and continuation of breastfeeding is in the best interest of the infant and mother (see Tables 2 and 3). Maternal bacterial infections rarely are complicated by transmission of infection to their infants through breast milk.

What do moms who breastfeed have lower risk of?

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer by 4.3% for every 12 months of breastfeeding, which is in addition to the 7.0% decrease in risk observed for each birth. Breastfeeding has been shown to primarily reduce the risk of Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer (20%) as well as in carriers of BRCA1 mutations (22–50%).

Which bacteria is most likely to be found in milk?

E. coli was found to be the most common enteric bacterium in raw milk (8, 57.1%). The same is true for Salmonella spp. (4, 57.1%).

Can HPV be transmitted through breast milk?

There is more research needed to understand the transmission between mother and child. HPV can also be passed through breast feeding but this is very rare and shouldn’t be a reason not to breastfeed. If it’s something you are concerned about – talk to your doctor or midwife.

What can be transferred into breast milk?

Almost any drug that’s present in the blood will transfer into breast milk to some extent. Most medications do so at low levels and pose no real risk to most infants. There are exceptions, though. Some drugs can be found in high levels in breast milk.

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.

What bacteria are passed through breast milk?

There are more than 200 strains of bacteria in breast milk, of which the most important are Lactobacilli, Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium.

What infections can be transmitted through breast milk?

The concern is about viral pathogens, known to be blood-borne pathogens, which have been identified in breast milk and include but are not limited to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), West Nile virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and HIV.