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Bacteriostasis of Escherichia coli by milk: I. Colonization of breast-fed infants by milk resistant organisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

Jean M. Dolby ,
Pauline Honour  and
H. B. Valman
Jean M. Dolby
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Centre and Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex HA 1 3 UJ
Pauline Honour
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Centre and Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex HA 1 3 UJ
H. B. Valman
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Centre and Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex HA 1 3 UJ
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Human milk has a bacteriostatic effect on Escherichia coli in vitro. The milks of 40 mothers were tested for this effect against E. coli isolated from their stools, from those of their own babies, and from those of babies not breast-fed. The milks had a direct bacteriostatic effect, not dependent on complement, on some but not all the strains of E. coli. Breast-fed babies receiving supplementary bottle feeds were colonized with milk-resistant strains, whereas bottle-fed babies and, surprisingly, babies completely breast-fed were colonized equally with milk-sensitive and milk-resistant strains, as were the mothers. These results suggest that the bacteriostatic effect of human milk, demonstrable in vitro does sometimes operate in vivo.

The antibacterial activity of human milk is not influenced by the O, H or K antigens of E. coli and is effective against other Gram-negative organisms, e.g. Salmonella, Klebsiella, Proteus.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 78 , Issue 1 , February 1977 , pp. 85 - 93
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

References

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