What infections can be 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 understand 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, the circumstances under which transmission occurs, and the implications for maternal health.
Key Infections Transmitted Through Breast Milk
1. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):
One of the most significant concerns regarding breastfeeding is the transmission of HIV. Studies indicate that mothers infected with HIV can transmit the virus through breast milk, particularly in the early months of breastfeeding. The risk of transmission is influenced by several factors, including the mother’s viral load and the duration of breastfeeding.
2. Cytomegalovirus (CMV):
CMV is another virus that can be transmitted through breast milk. While most infants who contract CMV through breastfeeding remain asymptomatic, the virus can cause serious health issues in immunocompromised infants or those with other health conditions.
3. Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I):
HTLV-I is a retrovirus that can lead to lifelong infection and is transmitted through breast milk. Although many infants remain asymptomatic, there is a risk of developing serious conditions later in life, such as adult T-cell leukemia.
4. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV):
The herpes virus can also be transmitted through breast milk, particularly if the mother has an active outbreak on her breast or nipple. In such cases, the risk of transmission increases significantly, and mothers are advised to avoid breastfeeding until the sores have healed.
5. Other Infections:
Other infections, such as syphilis and chlamydia, can also pose risks during breastfeeding. While these infections are not typically transmitted through breast milk, they can affect the breastfeeding process if sores are present on the breast. Additionally, conditions like mastitis, which can occur in breastfeeding mothers, may lead to complications that could affect the safety of breast milk.
Precautions and Recommendations
Given the potential for transmission of these infections, it is essential for mothers to consult healthcare providers about their health status and any infections they may have. In cases where a mother is infected with HIV or other transmissible infections, healthcare professionals may recommend specific guidelines for breastfeeding, including the use of antiretroviral therapy to reduce the risk of transmission.
For mothers with herpes or other skin infections, it is crucial to ensure that no lesions are present on the breast during breastfeeding. If sores are present, mothers may need to express milk and feed it to the infant using a bottle to minimize risk.
Conclusion
While breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial practice, awareness of the potential for infection transmission is vital for the health of both mother and child. By understanding the risks and taking appropriate precautions, mothers can make informed decisions about breastfeeding that prioritize their infant’s health and well-being.

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%).

Do they test babies for STDs at birth?

Health Services
Infant tests for HIV and syphilis are considered expedited when specimens are collected within two hours of birth and testing results are returned within six hours of collection.

What infections can be transmitted to humans from milk?

Raw milk can carry dangerous germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, and others that cause foodborne illness, often called “food poisoning.” These germs can seriously injure the health of anyone who drinks raw milk or eats products made from raw milk.

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%).

What diseases are 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.

Can I pass an infection through breast milk?

Breast milk can occasionally transmit serious viral and bacterial infections to preterm infants. We present three cases of late-onset neonatal sepsis, including one that resulted in death, occurring in preterm infants. The likely source of the microorganisms in all three cases was expressed 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 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 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.

Can I pass illness through breast milk?

So, here is the good news. Your body has superpowers! Did you know that you cannot pass illnesses such as the cold, flu, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and even COVID through your breast milk?