title: The use of human milk in the neonatal intensive care unit: practices in Belgium and Luxembourg.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human milk remains the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns. However, mother's milk is not sterile, and expressed milk can be a source of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms. Microbiological quality standards for the use of expressed human milk in hospitals are not available, unlike for donor or formula milk.
  
  
  METHODS
  To document current practices for the use of human milk in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Belgium and Luxembourg, both for mother's own milk and donor milk, a questionnaire was sent to all 20 neonatal units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 19 units that completed the survey, 47% perform bacteriological testing of expressed milk. Applied bacterial count limits for the acceptable level of contamination differ among units, for both commensals and pathogens. Only six units have a device for pasteurizing milk at their disposal. Storage time in the refrigerator for fresh milk varies between 24 hours to 7 days before use. Access to donor milk is limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routines for handling of human milk differ widely among NICUs in Belgium and Luxembourg. An assessment of current issues through a structured survey is a useful tool in the development of best practice guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. veerle.cossey@uzleuven.be
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cossey
authors.forename: Anne-Britt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Halleux
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanhole
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008189:Luxembourg / Q000453:epidemiology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012034:Refrigeration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires