title: Decontamination of breast pump milk collection kits and related items at home and in hospital: guidance from a Joint Working Group of the Healthcare Infection Society and Infection Prevention Society.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A variety of methods are in use for decontaminating breast pump milk collection kits and related items associated with infant feeding. This paper aims to provide best practice guidance for decontamination of this equipment at home and in hospital. It has been compiled by a Joint Working Group of the Healthcare Infection Society and the Infection Prevention Society.
  
  
  METHODS
  The guidance has been informed by a search of the literature in Medline, the British Nursing Index, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Midwifery and Infant Care, and the results of two surveys of UK neonatal units in 2002/3 and 2006, and of members of the Infection Prevention Society in 2014. Since limited good quality evidence was available from these sources, much of the guidance represents good practice based on the consensus view of the Working Group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This guidance provides practical recommendations to support the safe decontamination of breast pump milk collection kits for healthcare professionals to use and communicate to other groups such as parents and carers.
authors.affiliation: Honorary Consultant Microbiologist, Department of Infection, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: elizabethshanson@btinternet.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Human Milk Bank Manager, The Milk Bank, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Consultant Clinical Scientist, Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-associated Infections Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control Matron, Liverpool Community Health, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Former Clinical Nurse Specialist for Infant Feeding, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilks
authors.affiliation: Global Technical Lead, Synergy Health, Manchester, (Representing the Institute of Decontamination Sciences), UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Consultant Clinical Microbiologist (Retired), Ringwood, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ridgway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008895:Milk, Human; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Atmospheric pressure steam; Bottle brushes; Breast pump milk collection kits; Breast/nipple shields; Decontamination; Dummies (pacifiers, comforters or soothers); Hypochlorite-based chemical disinfectants