Microorganisms in human milk: lights and shadows.
Human milk has been traditionally considered germ free, however, recent studies have shown that it represents a continuous supply of commensal and potentially probiotic bacteria to the infant gut. Mammary microbioma may exercise anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and metabolic properties. Moreover human milk may be a source of pathogenic microorganism during maternal infection, if contaminated during expression or in case of vaccination of the mother. The non-sterility of breast milk can, thus, be seen as a protective factor, or rarely, as a risk factor for the newborn.
Neonatal Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternal-Infant Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo , Pavia , Italy .
Elisa
E
Civardi
Francesca
F
Garofoli
Chryssoula
C
Tzialla
Piermichele
P
Paolillo
Lina
L
Bollani
Mauro
M
Stronati
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000502:physiology; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology*; D019936:Probiotics; D013559:Symbiosis
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents