When you stroll through the grocery store, you’re likely to scrutinize product labels for freshness, especially when it concerns essential items for you and your family. This careful consideration also extends to donor human milk, a vital resource for preterm infants, as highlighted in a recent MUSC study published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Researchers found that the storage duration of donor human milk significantly influences gastrointestinal health in very premature infants, underscoring the importance of these storage guidelines.
Dr. Katherine E. Chetta, a physician-scientist at MUSC, spearheaded the research on how the storage duration of donor human milk could affect very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preemies. Her findings revealed that longer storage times correlate with increased risks of developing serious gastrointestinal conditions, particularly necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an inflammatory disease prevalent in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). NEC poses significant health risks, including bowel tissue death, leading to severe complications that may require surgical intervention.
### The Importance of Donor Human Milk
Donor human milk offers critical advantages for preterm infants. Typically used when a mother’s milk is insufficient or unavailable, it serves as an alternative that promotes immune function and supports digestion. Additionally, donor milk is linked to fewer complications compared to formula feeding, making it invaluable for infants with specific medical conditions.
The health benefits of donor human milk extend far beyond basic nutrition. Its protective properties help reduce the risk of conditions like NEC, which can create irreversible damage and lifelong complications for preemies. This ability to safeguard against serious illnesses makes donor human milk a key resource in NICUs.
### Storage Duration and Its Impact
Dr. Chetta’s research encompassed the medical records of 262 VLBW infants under care at MUSC between February 2022 and January 2024. Out of these, 36 infants developed NEC or another harmful condition called spontaneous perforation. A crucial finding from the study indicated that for each additional day donor milk was stored, the risk of NEC rose by 3.7%. The study established a “sweet spot” for frozen donor milk storage, suggesting that milk should ideally be used within 240 days for the most vulnerable infants.
Chetta emphasized that preemies at the lowest birth weights experience the most pronounced adverse effects from older donor milk. The research demonstrated that even while frozen, certain beneficial components of human milk degrade over time, thereby diminishing its protective properties.
### Reevaluating Guidelines
Current guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that donor human milk can be safely stored for up to a year. However, based on Chetta’s research, these recommendations may require reassessment, particularly for critically ill infants. The implications are significant; Chetta and her team have already initiated changes in their NICU to provide fresher milk, underscoring a growing consensus that fresher is better for the health of preemies.
Dr. Chetta explained, “We are already optimizing our procedures to ensure high-risk infants receive the freshest milk possible.” This proactive approach does not advocate for wasting milk that has exceeded this threshold but suggests maximizing the use of fresher supplies.
### Practical Considerations for NICUs
Dr. Chetta highly recommends that other NICUs engage with local milk banks to shorten the supply chain and ensure that fresher milk reaches critically ill infants more quickly. She noted, “It’s really about refocusing on getting the milk under that 240-day threshold.” This straightforward change in practices could significantly impact outcomes for vulnerable patients.
The practical application of these findings is already evident at MUSC, with an emphasis on optimizing milk handling processes to prioritize fresher donor milk. Through collaboration with the Mother’s Milk Bank of South Carolina, Chetta hopes to establish protocols that may soon become standard in NICUs nationwide.
### Looking Ahead
While the findings from this study are still emerging, the implications for neonatal care are profound. The research points toward a potential shift in how donor human milk is handled, aligning storage practices with the unique nutritional needs of preterm infants. Dr. Chetta remains optimistic that, as awareness increases and further validation of these findings occurs, improvements in outcomes will follow.
In conclusion, the MUSC study elucidates a critical component in neonatal care: the quality of donor human milk and its relationship with preemie gut health. Ensuring that those most at risk receive the freshest milk possible could represent a pivotal advancement in the care for preterm infants. By reevaluating storage guidelines and enhancing practices within NICUs, we can make a significant difference in the health and well-being of the most vulnerable newborns.
Through continued research and collaboration, the hope is to enhance the quality of care preterm infants receive and ultimately improve their chances of thriving. Dr. Chetta’s work is a step toward that goal, highlighting both a pressing issue and an opportunity to make impactful changes in clinical practices concerning donor human milk storage and its implications for gut health in preemies.
Source link
