Home Auditorium 7 Test breast milk for staphylococcus. Can staphylococcus pass into breast milk: danger to the baby. Treatment of infection in a nursing mother

Test breast milk for staphylococcus. Can staphylococcus pass into breast milk: danger to the baby. Treatment of infection in a nursing mother

The birth of a long-awaited baby brings not only great happiness, but also many difficulties. One of the problems that young mothers may encounter while still in the hospital ward of the maternity hospital is staphylococcus in breast milk. If it is suddenly discovered, some doctors insist that you immediately stop breastfeeding and start taking antibiotics. Others, on the contrary, require an increase in the number of feedings and do not prescribe any treatment. Which one is right? Where could staphylococcus come from in milk? How to get rid of it? Why is it dangerous for babies? Let's see what experts think about this.

Meet staphylococcus in all its glory

This microbe was named staphylococcus, starting from the Greek words “staphyli”, which means “grapes”, and “cocci”, that is, “grains”. Staphylococci look like round grains that gather in colonies, similar to bunches of grapes. There are 27 species in their family, but only four are pathogenic.

1. Staphylococcus aureus. It is found in breast milk more often than other species.

2. Epidermal (causes sepsis and epidermitis).

4. Hemolytic (provokes purulent inflammation of the skin, sepsis and a number of other ailments).

Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous because it can cause the greatest number of diseases and affect the skin, mucous membranes, lungs, brain and bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract. This type of microbe is also dangerous because it has managed to best adapt to all measures to combat it. So, there is a group of Staphylococcus aureus called methicillin-resistant. Its representatives are immune to penicillins and cephalosporins, oxacillins, and methicillins. Their harmfulness also lies in the fact that they are unusually tenacious, do not die in the sun, are kept dry, can withstand boiling temperatures of up to 150 degrees for 10 minutes, do not mind “bathing” in medical alcohol, and convert hydrogen peroxide into their food.

Where does staphylococcus come from in the maternity hospital?

According to statistics, there are several million bacteria for each of us. They populated all environmental niches. Staphylococcus is also ubiquitous. It is in the air, in the water, in the ground, on the surfaces we touch. Moreover, he lives in us and on us. Therefore, it is impossible to completely get rid of it. Staph infection can occur anywhere. In the maternity hospital, it is found on poorly processed instruments, on the snow-white coats of medical staff, on any surface, just in the air. Of course, it is present on the body of women in labor and on their clothes. Orderlies and nurses regularly carry out sanitation, but no matter how thorough it is, new staphylococci very quickly repopulate the room. They are brought in by the attendants or the medical staff themselves, they arrive in the ward with food or things brought for the mother or baby.
You can catch staphylococcus in the following ways:

through tools;
airborne;
contact;
with poorly processed food.

There is no need to panic about this, because these microbes do not always cause diseases.

How do staphylococci get into breast milk?

Many are perplexed: where can staphylococcus in breast milk come from if the mother herself is absolutely healthy? As we have already described, this microbe is everywhere, even in those maternity hospitals where thorough sanitation is regularly carried out. It also reproduces with pleasure on the body of mothers. To avoid it completely, the woman in labor must change clothes several times a day, and wear only boiled and ironed ones, and in addition, bathe daily. In practice this is difficult to achieve. It is much easier to thoroughly wash your breasts and hands before each feeding. Previously, maternity hospitals additionally required that nipples be wiped with a furatsilin solution before feeding. Particular care must be taken to treat the nipple on which cracks have formed. In these cases, staphylococci sitting on the skin and clothes easily get into wounds and immediately begin to multiply there. Without treatment, a woman can develop a dangerous disease - infectious mastitis. Staphylococcus in breast milk appears precisely from these wounds and milk ducts infected with the microbe. Another reason is the presence of this infection in the body of a pregnant woman who is left without treatment. In this case, the microbe enters the milk through the lymphatic vessels. Sometimes a woman does not even suspect that she has a staphylococcal infection in her body, it is so sluggish and asymptomatic.

For whom is staphylococcus dangerous?

Microorganisms present in breast milk first enter the baby’s mouth and then into his gastrointestinal tract, but pathological conditions do not always arise. Mother's milk, being a rich source of vitamins, among other things, supplies the child with important antibodies that successfully fight microbes, including staphylococcus. Therefore, most children's bodies do not react in any way to the presence of these microbes. They can cause disease in the following children:

premature;
born with pathologies;
very weak, low weight;
receiving complementary foods from the first days of life.

Staphylococcus in infants: symptoms of damage to internal organs and mucous membranes

A dangerous microbe can infect a baby’s mucous membranes. In this case, the following signs appear:

temperature;
cough;
“lined” mouth;
runny nose with purulent discharge.

If staphylococcus has penetrated the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, enterocolitis begins. Its symptoms:

Most often, conjunctivitis is observed in infants infected with staphylococcus. Signs of the disease:

sour eyes (when the baby wakes up, it is difficult to open them);
redness and swelling of the eyelids;
temperature.

If such symptoms appear, you need to consult a doctor, and not engage in self-diagnosis and treatment with traditional methods in the form of eye washing, because the staphylococcus driven inside will develop further.

Signs of skin damage by staphylococcus

Various types of rashes can also indicate staphylococcus in a baby. Symptoms of skin lesions often indicate the following ailments:

1. Phlegmon. At the same time, the baby’s temperature is elevated, reddened swelling is observed on the skin, to which the child reacts very painfully.

2. Abscess. It is also accompanied by an increase in temperature, moodiness, and refusal to eat. Pustules spread throughout the body. The skin around them becomes inflamed. When pressed, yellow-green pus flows out of them.

3. Pemphigus. Starting with a few blistering rashes, which many parents mistake for a harmless allergic reaction to diapers, this disease, without proper treatment, develops into sepsis. Signs of “dangerous” bubbles are common: the child is capricious, fever, reluctance to eat.

4. Sepsis. This terrible disease is most often caused not by staphylococcus in breast milk, but by infection of the umbilical wound by medical staff or the mother. Also, other, milder diseases caused by staphylococcus in milk can develop into sepsis.

Diagnostics

If staphylococcus is suspected, the following tests are taken from the baby:

culture from the nasopharynx;
skin scraping;
blood test (from a finger);
stool culture;
bacteria culture of mucus.

Breast milk is also tested for staphylococcus, but its positive result is not decisive. The fact is that you need to take the test in a 100% sterile environment, which is almost impossible to achieve in our laboratories.

To quit or not to quit breastfeeding

A number of doctors insist that if staphylococcus is detected, it is necessary to stop breastfeeding, treat the mother with antibiotics, and only when the titers are completely free of staphylococcus, continue to breastfeed the baby. Most doctors, including the famous pediatrician Komarovsky, do not share this opinion. Mother's milk contains antibodies that are not found in any infant formula. They protect the child not only from staphylococcus, but also from other dangerous microbes. Therefore, it is necessary to continue breastfeeding your baby. Of course, a woman must carefully comply with all hygiene requirements. Doctors recommend switching to artificial feeding only in particularly severe cases, when a woman is diagnosed with severe diseases caused by staphylococci.

Breastfeeding for infectious mastitis

This disease often affects women who have given birth for the first time, because they do not immediately know how to properly place the baby to the breast and control the flow of milk into the mammary gland. In the first case, wounds appear on the nipple, which are immediately colonized by staphylococci. In the second case, the milk stagnates, lactostasis begins, and the breast tissue becomes inflamed. If inflammation begins and staphylococcus is detected in breast milk, the woman should not only not stop breastfeeding, but, on the contrary, put the baby to the breast more often than usual. In some cases, additional pumping is required after feedings. Sometimes, according to indications, a woman is given an incision on her chest so that the pus can escape. At the same time, a course of antibiotic therapy is carried out. Breastfeeding should be interrupted only if pus is released from the nipple along with the milk. Then the breasts are emptied with a breast pump, and after the pus disappears, lactation is continued again.

Treatment

Antibiotics against staphylococcus, especially aureus, are not easy to choose. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you need to do an antibiogram. Basically, doctors prescribe Clarithromycin, Lincomycin, Azithromycin, Roxithromycin, Vancomycin, but these drugs may not be suitable for getting rid of methicillin-resistant streptococci.

Good results are obtained with bacteriophage preparations that “work” with all groups of bacteria.

In combination, doctors can prescribe probiotics and immunostimulants.

Ordinary brilliant green is ideal for killing staphylococcus, so it is imperative to lubricate nipples if they have wounds.

This page contains the most popular posts and comments from our users on the topic “Staphylococcus epidermidis in breast milk.” This will help you quickly get an answer to your question, and you can also take part in the discussion.

About culture of breast milk for sterility “Cultivation of milk for sterility”, also known as “bacteriological culture of milk”, also known as “Bacteriological examination of breast milk”, etc. An incredibly popular analysis in the countries of the former CIS. An insane number of questions about it on the forum and in everyday practice. There is no end to the wasted nerves of mothers, the antibiotics they drank and the bacteriophages they injected...

Girls, who had milk tested, help me figure it out!!! Today we took the results, this is what it says: “right - staphylococcus epidermidis V/ml 130 CFU Not mass growth, left - staphylococcus epidermidis V/ml 160 CFU Not mass growth. The laboratory said that the milk was normal, but did not explain anything of course!!! (I took the test because my daughter was diagnosed with dysbacteriosis and staphylococcus) How did I...

I never cease to be amazed at how many people in different parts of the world do not have the slightest idea about the animals living side by side with them. J. Darrell Guys, let's live together! A. Haitcocci are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos translates as “grain”). Hundreds of a wide variety of cocci surround a person throughout his life, but no...

Staphylococcus I never cease to be amazed at how many people in different parts of the world do not have the slightest idea about the animals living side by side with them. J. Darrell Guys, let's live together! A. Haitcocci are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos translates as “grain”). Hundreds of a wide variety of cocci surround a person throughout his life,…

Cocci are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos translates as “grain”). Hundreds of a wide variety of cocci surround a person throughout his life, but there is, perhaps, no microbe more famous than staphylococcus. The microbiological term staphylococcus was introduced into medical practice back in 1881. Under a microscope it can be seen that the cocci gather in groups...

Cocci are oval or spherical bacteria (the Greek word kokkos translates as “seed”). Hundreds of a wide variety of cocci surround a person throughout his life, but there is, perhaps, no microbe more famous than staphylococcus. The microbiological term staphylococcus was introduced into medical practice back in 1881. Under a microscope it can be seen that the cocci gather in groups...

Breast milk is the ideal food for a newborn. Milk contains vitamins and elements necessary for the full growth and development of the baby. Therefore, it is important for a nursing mother to take care of the quality of her milk and get tested periodically. After all, breast milk can contain various bacteria, from absolutely harmless to quite dangerous.

Staphylococci are often found in humans. It tends to spread quickly in the body with weakened immunity and infect internal organs and tissues. The fungus can be found on the skin and mucous membranes, in the intestines and breast milk.

Characteristics of bacteria

A medical analysis will tell you about the presence of bacteria in milk. At the same time, staphylococcus does not always cause health problems. If the nursing mother has good immunity, it is safe for the baby, since the antibodies in breast milk simply block bactericidal substances.

But it should be borne in mind that a woman’s body is exhausted after childbirth, and the immune system is most often weakened. Then staphylococcus begins to multiply and poison the body with toxins. As a result, the risk of skin inflammation, blood poisoning (sepsis), pneumonia, meningitis and other organ damage increases. In this case, it is necessary to start treatment.

Most often, staphylococci are safe and do not manifest themselves in any way. However, with unfavorable microflora, they multiply, infect and poison the body with harmful substances and cause dangerous diseases, including thrush and E. coli. The development and proliferation of bacteria is facilitated by weak immunity, trauma and surgery, and intestinal dysbiosis.

Staphylococcus aureus is a danger to mother and baby!

Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous type of infection. Such bacteria have microcapsules and are golden in color. They quickly penetrate tissues and organs, where they form toxic enzymes. Such substances destroy the internal structure of cells and cause a number of dangerous diseases.

The main cause of fungus in breast milk is cracks and wounds on the nipples, through which bacteria penetrate.

The following symptoms will help determine the presence of staphylococcus:

Painful cracks and abrasions on the nipples;
Inflammation of the mammary glands;
Intense throbbing chest pain;
Discharge of pus from the nipples;
High temperature;
Fatigue and malaise.

If you notice these symptoms, immediately get tested and begin treatment. Staphylococcus aureus in breast milk causes many ailments and diseases in mothers and babies.

Consequences of Staphylococcus aureus

To get rid of the infection, long-term and carefully selected treatment is required. Staphylococcus aureus is very resistant and cannot be treated with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Treatment for staphylococcus can only be prescribed by a doctor!

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Staphylococcus epidermidis (Staphylococcus epidermidis) lives on the skin. There are dozens of varieties of these bacteria that do not harm humans. Such bacteria are found on the skin and enter the milk during expression. A skin infection is not dangerous and does not cause serious illness. And the presence of such bacteria in milk does not interfere with breastfeeding.

Symptoms:

If milk stagnation or lumps occur, a nursing mother should definitely consult a doctor. If proper treatment is not carried out, lactostasis will lead to serious diseases, one of which is mastitis.

How to determine the presence of bacteria in milk: get tested

If you have concerns about the presence of dangerous bacteria in breast milk, you need to get tested. Take and boil two jars for 40 minutes. Wash your hands and nipples thoroughly, wipe your breasts with a paper towel,

Start expressing milk. Recommendations from this article will tell you how to properly express milk by hand. Skip the first 10 ml and start collecting milk from the right breast into one jar, and from the left into another. Milk must be submitted for analysis within three hours.

Also, if a staphylococcal infection is suspected, a stool test is taken from the baby. To ensure the reliability of the result, the procedure is repeated two to three times every two days.

If your fears are confirmed, do not panic! Contact your doctor so he can choose the right treatment. With such an infection, you can continue to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is stopped only if a woman has purulent mastitis.

Prevention and treatment

We remind you that only a doctor prescribes treatment! It is important that the medications taken are compatible with lactation and do not harm the baby. Antibiotics, which are contraindicated during breastfeeding, often help with such infections.

To support microflora and destroy harmful bacteria, a nursing mother is prescribed probiotics and plant-based antiseptics. Popular drugs are rotokan and chlorophyllipt. The solutions are used to wipe the nipples for two to three weeks. Such products are safe for babies and do not require stopping breastfeeding.

To prevent contamination of milk, it is necessary to follow the recommendations for compliance with feeding rules and preventive measures:

It is necessary to establish proper breastfeeding. Feed your baby on demand, not according to a schedule. Place the baby in the correct position, making sure that it grasps the nipple and areola;
Take care of nipple and breast hygiene! Wash twice daily using only neutral liquid soap. Dry your breasts with paper towels or tissues. Regular soap and towels irritate the nipples;
If cracks or abrasions appear on the nipples, use special compresses, ointments and gels for the breast. What remedies for cracked nipples can be used during lactation, read here;
To prevent cracks, use solutions of vitamins A and E. They increase skin elasticity, prevent injuries and promote rapid recovery.
Use comfortable, soft underwear when breastfeeding that will not rub or cut into your nipples.
Place special pads in your bra that absorb excess liquid. Be sure to change the pads when they get wet!;
Check your breasts regularly for lumps and milk stagnation;
Often the cause of infection is food. A nursing mother should carefully plan her diet. Remove sweets and flour products from the menu, as they create a favorable environment for the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Tips from the article “Nutrition after childbirth” will help you create the right menu for lactation.

Proper organization of breastfeeding the baby and nutrition of the nursing mother will prevent staphylococcus in breast milk. Don't forget to monitor your baby's well-being!

Often, research reveals staphylococcus in the breast milk of a nursing mother. It turns out that mother's milk is not always beneficial. If you suspect any disturbance in the feeding process, you should contact a specialist. Testing breast milk for sterility will clarify the solution to the problem.

Description of the problem

Breast milk contains various types of staphylococcus - microorganisms that belong to the opportunistic sphere of humans. Staphylococcus can be found everywhere - in the air, on the skin, in products, in human internal organs.

At the same time, it does not make itself felt for a long time, but if favorable conditions have been created, the abundant spread of these microbes begins. This can lead to serious illness.

This microorganism begins to multiply in such cases as:

decreased immunity;
colds and any other infectious diseases;
coli;
dysbacteriosis;
undergone operations.

As the number of microbes spreads and increases, the body becomes intoxicated. Complications arise - pneumonia, meningitis, blood poisoning.

The most dangerous type of microbe found in breast milk is Staphylococcus aureus.

It can release harmful toxic substances that destroy healthy cells in the body. Causes purulent diseases.
Reduces the body's defenses.
Develops rapid resistance to antibiotics.
Pathogenic microbes can spread through airborne droplets. Infection can also occur in utero.
The disease can begin several times.

Staphylococcus aureus causes certain disturbances in the functioning of the body:

various purulent skin diseases (pustules, boils);
digestive system disorders (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain);
inflammatory, infectious diseases of the nasopharynx (sore throat, otitis media, sinusitis);
eye diseases (conjunctivitis).

If Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected in the milk, the test should be retaken. Before this, you need to follow all hygiene rules, since this type of bacteria could get from the upper layers of the skin. In addition, doctors allow a small amount of this type of staphylococcus in breast milk.

How to recognize staphylococcus

The entry occurs from the external environment. Many cracks form on the nipples, especially in the first weeks of feeding, through which bacteria penetrate into breast milk. Only a special analysis can accurately determine their presence.

The main symptoms of the presence of staphylococcus in breast milk:

microcracks appear on the nipples, which cause pain and discomfort;
throbbing severe pain in the chest indicates the development of an inflammatory process;
purulent discharge from the nipples;
If Staphylococcus aureus is observed in breast milk, then symptoms may include fever, weakness and loss of appetite.

The child also experiences loss of appetite, diarrhea, and lack of weight gain.

Studying breast milk for sterility

To get the right research result, you need to prepare. Breast milk is delivered to the laboratory for analysis immediately after collection.

To collect breast milk, you must follow certain rules.

Milk from the right and left breasts is collected in different containers.
The container must be sterile, for which it must be boiled for several minutes. Jars can be bought at the pharmacy.
Hands and nipples must be thoroughly washed and dried with a clean towel.
Pour out the first few mg of milk. For analysis, 10 ml from each breast is enough.

A complete analysis of breast milk is ready a week after delivery. This time is enough for bacteria to inoculate and mature. Once staphylococcus, especially Staphylococcus aureus, has been discovered, research is carried out on their resistance to various antibiotics. At the same time, you can conduct a stool test for the presence of staphylococcus in the child’s body.

Treatment of the disease

Even if pathogenic microorganisms have been detected, breastfeeding does not stop. When breast milk is analyzed, medications that are safe for the baby’s body are prescribed. Doctors prohibit feeding in the presence of purulent mastitis.

If these bacteria are detected, then the nipples need to be treated with antiseptics (chlorophyllipt, bacteriophage). Chlorophyllipt can be prescribed to the mother orally.
When feeding your baby, you should use special nipple covers that will reduce pain and the likelihood of transmitting germs to the baby.
Antibiotics are prescribed. Your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding during treatment, but in most cases this is not necessary.
Complex of vitamins and minerals.
Drugs that enhance immunity.
Restoration of hormonal levels.

To treat the child, probiotics are prescribed, which help restore the intestinal tract. If staphylococcus is detected in a child, antibacterial therapy is carried out.

If alarming symptoms appear, it is better to go to the hospital and have your milk tested.

Prevention

Cracks in the nipples can appear for various reasons - for example, the baby is not properly attached to the breast, or when from the first hours of life he was taught to feed from a bottle. To avoid sores on the nipples, you need to follow certain rules.

Immediately after birth, the baby should be put to the breast.
Breastfeeding should be done on demand.
It is necessary to breastfeed the baby until the last moment - you should not grab the bottle for any problem.
It is not recommended to wash the mammary glands with soap - it dries the skin and can cause cracks.
You should not eat fried, sweet or spicy foods, as they create a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.
You can treat nipples with solutions that contain vitamins A and E, which prevent the appearance of cracks and wounds.

If the mother also begins to feed with formula, then this is an additional burden on the digestive system of the baby’s body. Abnormal bowel movements and a rash may appear.

You should not give up breastfeeding, because it is the main source of increasing the immune strength of the child’s body. Milk helps strengthen the baby’s internal organs, and the formation of intestinal flora occurs faster. No other product can replace the nutrients and vitamins found in breast milk.

Staphylococcus is often found in breast milk. Mothers usually panic during such tests. What to do if you find staphylococcus? Do I need to get treatment myself? Will a baby get infected if breastfed? Without the correct information, mom can make mistakes. For example, stop breastfeeding when it is absolutely unnecessary. Or, conversely, do not pay attention to serious symptoms and bring the breast to surgery.

What is staphylococcus

Cocci are spherical bacteria. Staphylococci also always gather in grape-like clusters. There are many such bacteria, but only three pose a danger to the human body: Staphylococcus aureus, saprophytic and epidermal staphylococci. The most dangerous of them is Staphylococcus aureus. This is what is usually found in milk analysis.

Properties of Staphylococcus aureus:

It is resistant to most common damaging factors, does not die in direct sunlight, tolerates drying, can withstand temperatures of 150 degrees for 10 minutes, can live in pure alcohol, and is destroyed by hydrogen peroxide.
The only microbe capable of producing coagulase, an enzyme that causes Staphylococcus aureus to surround itself with clotted blood. Being inside this microthrombus, it can enter any organ along with the blood flow and cause purulent inflammation. It is Staphylococcus aureus that causes purulent mastitis.
Produces strong poisons that cause serious illnesses. In particular, skin lesions in infants, when the child becomes covered with blisters similar to burns.
Very quickly develops resistance to antibiotics.
The most dangerous are hospital-acquired infections, since these strains are the most difficult to treat. It is very difficult to get rid of them.
Staphylococcus spreads by contact and airborne droplets. A child can also become infected in utero.
But a healthy human body copes excellently with Staphylococcus aureus. Normally, it is worn on the skin of up to 80% of healthy people. But for weakened, recently ill, premature babies, this microbe is very dangerous. Fasting and lack of sleep also increase susceptibility to infection. This must be taken into account by mothers of small children who often do not get enough sleep and are trying to get back into shape as soon as possible.

Analysis of breast milk for staphylococcus

If both mother and child are healthy, there are no signs of infection, then there is no reason to take this test either. Firstly, it is impossible to correctly collect the analysis. Hand washing does not destroy this germ.

If milk is collected with a breast pump, then it is impossible to sterilize it at home so as to completely destroy Staphylococcus aureus. But even if we assume that the mother somehow managed to do this, there remains contact of milk with the skin of the nipple, which cannot be excluded in any way. And staphylococcus usually lives on the skin, from there it gets into the milk. So a positive result of a milk test for staphylococcus does not mean that microbes live inside the breast. And you don’t need to hand it over “just like that.”

Staphylococcus and GV

The decision about the need for treatment, as well as whether it will be possible to breastfeed the baby during it, is made individually. But in most cases, no treatment is required. If the child does not have any symptoms of infection with staphylococcus, then the mother can breastfeed him, even if the test revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. You should always focus on the baby’s condition.

It is almost impossible to obtain such a concentration of Staphylococcus aureus in milk that the child cannot be breastfed. And there is no better nutrition for a baby than breast milk. No other feeding will give the baby the antibodies he needs so much, which protect him from various diseases.

Prevention of allergies, gastrointestinal disorders and purulent-septic infections is breastfeeding from the first minutes of a baby’s life. It must be carried out “on demand”. Supplementing with water and feeding formulas to healthy children should be excluded.

If a child’s culture reveals dysbacteriosis with a large amount of staphylococcus, then he can be treated with all kinds of “phages” without depriving him of mother’s milk.

And even if the mother requires treatment for her own health reasons, most often you can take drugs that are compatible with breastfeeding. In the most extreme case, if doctors insist on treatment with drugs that have an adverse effect on the baby, it is advisable for the mother to express herself in order to return to breastfeeding after the end of treatment.

As Dr. Komarovsky says in his program, he has not encountered cases of infection of a healthy child with staphylococcus through mother's milk. Only an extremely weakened child can become infected this way.

But a newborn may well become infected through the umbilical wound. Possible infection during childbirth. The infection can also enter the body with common prickly heat.

How to treat breast diseases caused by staphylococcus

Treatment is required in cases where the mother or the child, and sometimes both, have clinical manifestations of the disease.

If your mother has an inflamed crack on her chest, then first of all you need to treat the cracks. After all, their appearance is caused by improper application, and not by staphylococcus. But the cracks that have already formed are an open gate for any infection. It is almost impossible for staphylococcus to get into a healthy breast without cracks.

If a mother has mastitis, then treatment is necessary. First, it is necessary to culture the pathogen for sensitivity to antibiotics in order to select the correct drug using analysis. If it comes to an abscess, then it will be impossible to cure mastitis without interrupting breastfeeding.

Signs of mastitis:

temperature;
chest pain that gets worse during feeding;
enlarged and painful lymph nodes in the armpits.

Treatment is most often carried out with monomycin, erythromycin, combining them with tetracycline and levomycin. Bromocriptine and Parlodel should not be taken for more than 4 days as they suppress lactation. In any case, treatment with antibiotics during lactation should be prescribed only by a doctor and only after testing for sensitivity to antibiotics.

A good remedy is Chlorophyllipt. It is used for various localizations of infection. Chlorophyllipt is approved for use by nursing mothers only with a doctor's prescription. A mandatory check for an allergy to Chlorophyllipt is required.

Folk remedies

Apple pulp mixed with butter helps a lot for cracked nipples.
You can smear the cracks with celandine juice. This also speeds up their healing.
A decoction of tangerine peel with licorice is used as an external lotion on the sore area of the chest.

Treatment of hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus poses difficulties. As Dr. Komarovsky says, these bacteria are the most resistant to both disinfectants and antibiotics. It is not for nothing, according to Komarovsky again, that abroad relatives are often allowed to freely go to the wards, with the exception of some departments with a special regime. Bacteria brought in from the street dilute sick leave and make it less dangerous.

The body of a nursing mother is weakened after childbirth. Protective barriers do not protect as reliably as before from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. And here is the result: a woman learns with horror that a dangerous microorganism, staphylococcus, has “settled” in her breast milk. Where to go, where and how to get treatment are paramount questions; the child’s health depends on their solution. However, before you panic, you should calmly figure out whether staphylococcus is so terrible and whether in all cases you need to quickly get rid of the harmful bacteria.

Staphylococcus and its types

“Stafili” means “grapes” in Greek, “cocci” means “grains”. These two words gave the name to one of the world's most famous microbes. Indeed, under a microscope, staphylococci resemble round or oval grains that stick to each other like bunches of grapes.

Science identifies 27 species in the staphylococcus family. Of these, 14 are related to humans, but only 3 species are considered pathogenic (capable of causing disease). This:

The vitality of Staphylococcus aureus is amazing. A separate resistant group of bacteria is not afraid of penicillin and other antibiotics, lives for 10 minutes in water boiling at 150°C, is immune to alcohol and has adapted to feed on hydrogen peroxide.

Staphylococcus aureus has a microcapsule with which it penetrates living cells and poisons that are destructive to cellular structures.

The pest has a detrimental effect on the skin, lungs, mucous membranes, digestive organs, brain and bone marrow.

Studies have shown that pathologies caused by staphylococci have affected almost every inhabitant on the planet at least once. Moreover, people who have had the disease do not develop immunity to the microbe.

Photo gallery: diseases caused by staphylococci

Saprophytic staphylococcus causes cystitis. Reproduction of epidermal staphylococcus on mucous membranes leads to sepsis. Staphylococcus aureus in breast milk is the cause of mastitis.

Where does staphylococcus come from in breast milk?

Like other bacteria, staphylococcus is ubiquitous. The microorganism's habitat is earth, air, water, living beings, including humans. No matter how carefully the premises and clothing in the maternity hospital are treated, new microbes quickly take the place of the old ones. For this reason, it is impossible to create a sterile environment for women in labor even in the case of complete isolation from outside contacts.

A woman can catch staphylococcus through:

poorly processed medical instruments;
contacts with medical personnel;
air in the room;
improperly prepared food.

Staphylococci also live on a doctor's or nurse's coat

However, this development of events does not mean at all that the young mother will definitely get sick. The microbe can live on the skin for a long time without entering the body. If the woman in labor also thoroughly washes her hands and regularly cleans her nipples, staphylococcus is unlikely to find its way into breast milk.

The microbe penetrates milk in two ways:

through cracks in the nipple - through the milk ducts;
through the lymphatic vessels - if a woman, being pregnant, has already become infected with a staphylococcal infection.

The problem with nursing mothers is cracked nipples. They are formed, first of all, from inept breastfeeding: either the baby grasps only the edge of the nipple with his mouth, when he should, along with the areola, or the woman allows the baby to suck for too long, even after he has had enough. The result is a wound on the nipple, which serves as a “gate” for bacteria living on the body.

Does staphylococcus always attack?

This sounds strange, but the latest medicine advises mothers who have a microbe not to reach for antibiotics: even such a harmful microorganism in breast milk is not a symptom of the disease. Moreover, this is the norm: most often staphylococcus behaves peacefully in the human body, without disturbing the “host”. Therefore, the microbe fell into the category of opportunistic (as opposed to pathogenic).

If the mother and baby do not show signs of developing an infection, it is premature to resort to treatment. It is also undesirable to stop breastfeeding.

With mother's milk, the child receives antibodies that strengthen his immune system. As a result, the body of a healthy baby successfully fights staphylococcus.

When children are defenseless against infectious agents

If a baby's system of counteracting harmful microorganisms is weakened, the baby may be attacked by staphylococci.

The risk zone includes:

premature;
born with pathologies;
weak, with less than average weight;
receiving artificial nutrition from birth.

The body of a premature baby does not have enough strength to fight infections

If staphylococcus has found a loophole in a weakened defense system, it shows aggression, beginning to infect the skin and internal organs of the child.

Signs of infection:

loose green stool with mucus;
bloating;
cough;
runny nose with pus;
high temperature;
vomit;
conjunctivitis;
pustules, blistering rashes on the body.

If you notice such symptoms in your baby, call a doctor immediately. The main thing is not to self-medicate: for example, do not wash your eyes with conjunctivitis - this will not get rid of staphylococcus, but simply drive it inside.

If the bacteria gets into the child's blood, infection may begin, in which case a blood transfusion will be required. If the microbe enters the lungs, the baby faces pneumonia.

When bacteria harms a nursing mother

As long as a woman breastfeeds her baby correctly and regularly and pumps, she is free from lactostasis - stagnation of milk in the glands. Errors in feeding techniques provoke the development of this pathology - and that’s all staphylococcus needs. The bacterium begins to colonize the space, while the woman’s well-being worsens and symptoms appear:

pain and heaviness in the chest;
redness of the skin on the surface of the chest;
the appearance of areas of compaction;
difficulties expressing milk (the process is uneven);
increase in temperature (but no fever yet).

The baby must grasp the nipple with the areola with his mouth, otherwise the mother risks getting lactostasis

If the mother manages to establish breastfeeding according to all the rules, milk stagnation will stop. It happens that the elevated temperature does not go away within two days - then there is a threat of infectious mastitis. Doctor's help required.

At first, the symptoms of lactostasis and mastitis are similar, but with the latter they quickly intensify. The disease goes through several stages until it reaches the destructive phase - purulent mastitis. This condition threatens a woman's life. Signs of the purulent stage:

Then it gets worse: a sharp drop in hemoglobin, lack of milk in the breast, tissue necrosis. The gangrenous stage of mastitis begins, during which the mammary gland may have to be removed. This is how staphylococcus acts if you don’t fight it.

pus contains already dead bacteria;
The baby’s body can produce antibodies that will “fight” harmful microbes.

Not everyone likes the radical position of the WHO: more cautious doctors advise stopping breastfeeding during the destructive phase of mastitis.

Diagnosis of staphylococcus

If a nursing mother suffers from lactostasis and suspects the onset of an infection, she will think about getting tested for the presence of staphylococcus in breast milk. When preparing milk for the laboratory, you should maintain hygiene so that particles from clothing do not get into the liquid for analysis. You can use a sterilized breast pump.

The procedure looks like this:

Find two disposable jars (plastic or glass) separately for the right and left breasts.
Boil glass containers for 10–12 minutes, wash plastic containers thoroughly.
Label each jar so that it is clear which gland the milk comes from.
Wash your hands and both breasts with baby soap.
Express 10 ml of milk from each breast and pour it out: the first portion is not suitable for sowing.
Wash the glands again and wipe with a napkin.
Express 10–15 ml from the corresponding breast into each jar; Close the containers tightly with lids.
Take the jars with the contents to the laboratory. The main thing is time: the laboratory technician does the culture of breast milk a maximum of 3 hours after pumping. Later the material will become unusable.

A breast pump will help prepare breast milk for analysis.

In the laboratory, staphylococci have nutritious soil on which they will quickly grow. In a week the result is ready. The type and number of microbes, as well as resistance to antibiotics are determined (this will then be useful in treatment).

Possible analysis results

Sterile breast milk is extremely rare in modern conditions, doctors say.

In 80% of cases, the detection of bacteria is the result of incorrect sampling. Staphylococcus is present everywhere. It is impossible to create complete sterility for analysis collection. It can get into milk from the skin of the chest, palms, even from the air.
Mikhail Kyshtymov, head of the department of the Children's Hospital named after. Filatova
http://kids365.ru/stafilokokk-v-grudnom-moloke/

Therefore, the most likely results of bacteriological culture are:

staphylococci were found, and in small quantities - there is no reason to panic, since these microbes live in a healthy body;
If a larger cluster is found, it is also too early to worry: the microbe is opportunistic, and until conditions favorable for its reproduction are created, it will not attack;
Many colonies of Staphylococcus aureus, the most dangerous type, were found.

It would seem that in the latter case the mother should be advised to immediately stop breastfeeding the baby. However, the opinion of many modern doctors, including the famous children's doctor Komarovsky, is to continue breastfeeding. Because breast milk cannot contain such a concentration of staphylococci that it becomes dangerous to breastfeed.

A little about the norm

There are certain standards for the content of staphylococcus on objects, skin and mucous membranes. Depending on how the microbe grows, there are 4 degrees:

Weak growth - only in a liquid environment, there is no danger to the body.
Growth of up to 10 colonies of a species is not dangerous.
Growth from 10 to 100 colonies is the beginning of the disease.
The growth of more than 100 colonies is a pronounced pathology.

If, according to the results of the analysis, staphylococcus 10 in the 3rd degree, this is a variant of the norm.
Not all scientists agree that a large number of staphylococci in breast milk requires stopping breastfeeding

However, a number of doctors claim: there is no concept of “normal staphylococcus in breast milk”. And although it is determined during the analysis process, 150 CFU/ml or 200 CFU/ml (colony-forming unit, shows the number of microorganisms per unit volume), it is not important. The main thing is the condition of the baby. A healthy baby will cope with germs with the help of antibodies. And a person infected with a staphylococcal infection can be treated without removing him from the chest. For a mother, the presence of a microorganism in her milk matters only if purulent mastitis is suspected.

To determine whether a child has staphylococcus, they first go to a neonatologist. Most likely, the doctor will send you for the following tests:

culture from the nasopharynx;
skin scraping;
blood test;
bacteriological culture of stool;
bacteriological culture of mucus.

The danger to the baby’s health begins with an indicator of staphylococcus in feces of 10 to 4 degrees. And with an indicator of 10 to 6 degrees, the child, as a rule, already has a noticeable purulent infection, so it is necessary to urgently begin treatment.

Video: Dr. Komarovsky about tests for staphylococcus

Treatment of staphylococcal infection in a nursing mother

At the stage of lactostasis and non-infectious mastitis, a woman can limit herself to folk remedies. For purulent inflammation, drug treatment is required.

Folk remedies against disease

To prevent milk stagnation from ending in infection, it should be dealt with in the early stages. “Grandma’s recipes” will help in the fight against cracked nipples and breast inflammation.
Cabbage leaf will ease the symptoms of lactostasis

To soften the breasts, you can also use regular ice from the refrigerator. It is wrapped in cloth, placed on the reddened area and kept for 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure every 3 hours. The main thing is not to get carried away, otherwise hypothermia is possible.

You should not prescribe folk remedies on your own - you always need the help of a doctor, otherwise you risk provoking mastitis.

Table: folk remedies against lactostasis

Name	How to cook	How it works
Apples with butter	Grate the pulp from fresh apples. Add melted butter. Place it on the sore spot.	heals cracked nipples
Kalanchoe juice	pour juice over the sore spot on the chest or apply a liquid-soaked bandage	heals cracked nipples
Cabbage leaf	Scald a leaf of fresh cabbage with boiling water. Apply to the sore chest.	Relieves inflammation. Has an antibacterial effect.
Honey cake	Knead the dough from 1 part honey and 2 parts flour. Roll out the flatbread and place it on your chest. Keep overnight.	Dissolves seals. Relieves inflammation.
Salt compress	Dissolve 1 tbsp in a glass of warm boiled water. l. salt. Moisten a cloth with the solution, place it on the breast lubricated with cream, leaving the areola and nipple exposed. Cover with a warm scarf. Keep it until it cools down.	Draws out excess liquid. Relieves inflammation.

Herbal antiseptics

A number of doctors advise patients to get rid of cracked nipples using herbal preparations that are sold in pharmacies.

It is not necessary to treat the disease with antibiotics. A good effect is ensured by treating the mammary glands with herbal antiseptics - Chlorophyllipt or Rotokan for two to three weeks. During this time, the wounds on the nipples will disappear, and with them the germs.
Yuri Kopanev, Candidate of Medical Sciences

Both drugs, as written in the instructions, have an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effect:

Chlorophyllipt is a natural preparation with eucalyptus extract, contains vitamin C. Cracks on the nipples are lubricated with an oil solution. The wounds should disappear within 2-3 weeks. Dispensed with a doctor's prescription, the price of the drug is from 103 to 137 rubles;
Rotokan is an extract of pharmaceutical herbs with alcohol. Dilute 1 teaspoon of Rotokan in 1 glass of water and apply to the wounds. Available without a prescription, price - 33 rubles.

Treatment with antibiotics

The turn of bactericidal drugs comes when other means do not help. So, if the high temperature does not go away, the woman feels that the condition is worsening - which means that antibiotics cannot be avoided.

The choice for the attending physician is difficult: medications must kill pathogenic microflora and not harm the baby, and most antibiotics pass into breast milk. Drugs of 3 groups are considered relatively safe:

penicillins (pass into milk in small quantities);
cephalosporins (initially little in milk, but with chest inflammation it becomes more);
macrolides (penetrate into milk better than others, but are less toxic and allergenic).

From the group of cephalosporins, we can mention the drug Cephalexin. It is effective against Staphylococcus aureus, however, when prescribing the drug, doctors recommend temporarily stopping breastfeeding.
Cephalexin has an antibacterial effect; during treatment you will have to stop breastfeeding

It must be remembered that most antibiotics, while fighting infectious agents, do not treat mastitis itself.

Some experts even doubt that such drugs can kill bacteria that live in boiling water for 10 minutes and digest hydrogen peroxide.

Table: antibiotics during breastfeeding

Bacteriophages as a possible replacement for antibiotics

Living bacteria or viruses of natural origin are called bacteriophages. They are designed to “infiltrate” the pest’s cell and kill it. To combat Staphylococcus aureus, several “orders” of so-called staphylococcal phages are used at once.

The live culture is contained in the vial. For infectious mastitis, the drug is used orally 1 hour before meals 3 times a day. This must be done according to the rules:

do not dilute the contents of the bottle;
wash your hands before taking the drug;
treat the bottle cap with an alcohol solution;
after use, close the bottle immediately;
Store the opened container at a temperature of 2–8° for 2 years.

The course of phage therapy is 1–3 weeks. The dosage is determined by the doctor.

There are different opinions regarding the effectiveness of staphylococcal phages. For many Russian specialists, live bacteria are the best replacement for antibiotics. But foreign doctors do not particularly trust bacteriophages, believing that more power is needed against Staphylococcus aureus. They prescribe drugs only as “helpers” to antibiotics.

Breast milk is not a sterile liquid, so testing for sterility rarely shows a good result. Moreover, most often foremilk is given into a test tube, which is in more contact with the skin, on which various microbes can actually live, plus you need to look at the conditions for conducting and submitting the analysis, whether the test tube is really sterile, how much time has passed since the moment milk was expressed into it and laboratory research directly. If this time, as usual, is 2-3 hours, then staphylococcus, which was in small quantities on the skin or in a test tube in a nutrient medium such as milk, has managed to multiply many times over. Moreover, this analysis is perhaps the most revealing for doctors; after it, the decision to stop breastfeeding is most often made. Let's look at this problem from the point of view of mother and child, Is breast milk contaminated with staphylococcus dangerous or beneficial for the baby's health?

First of all, it must be said that (including the most dangerous one - golden) is a very common bacterium and can live anywhere, on the skin, on mucous membranes, in the human intestines, without causing any diseases. Staphylococcus is an opportunistic flora, therefore, under normal conditions a person with good immunity does not develop any diseases from its presence. But when the body is weakened, intestinal dysbacteriosis, injuries, after operations, as well as when infected with a large number of bacteria, the immune defense weakens and the bacteria begins to multiply intensively, poisoning the body with its toxins, which causes purulent-inflammatory diseases on the skin, mucous membranes, and human organs . The most dangerous among them are sepsis - blood poisoning, as well as staphylococcal meningitis, pneumonia and other organ damage.

From the above, it becomes clear that in order to prevent a child from getting sick, you need to take care of strengthening his immunity from birth. And the best way to raise a healthy baby and give him good immunity is early breastfeeding immediately after birth, so that the baby receives precious drops of colostrum, rich in immunoglobulins, vitamins and other useful substances that will contribute to the development of its own beneficial intestinal microflora, which protects the body from the effects of pathogenic microbes. Thus, we come to a controversial situation: breast milk is protection for the child, but for some reason it is often blamed for all the baby’s health problems and immediate cessation of feeding is required. The question inevitably arises: if nature has not endowed breast milk with ideal sterility, then this is not so important?

In fact, all our troubles begin precisely because we do not want to follow the call of nature. If the baby was not immediately attached to the breast after birth, if before the first attachment to the mother he received a formula from a bottle or a pacifier, if the mother was not explained how to properly attach the baby, and that feeding should be done on demand, and not according to a schedule, then As a result, it turns out that due to improper attachment, cracks appear on the mother’s nipples, through which various bacteria enter the breast, incl. and staphylococci, it is difficult for the mother to feed, and the baby does not suck out all the milk that has arrived, because of this, lactostasis begins in the chest, then mastitis, staphylococcus begins to actively multiply and leads to purulent inflammation. Against the background of this unpleasant picture, the mother and baby begin to feed with formula, which is an additional burden on the child’s gastrointestinal tract, because he receives 2 different types of nutrition (milk and formula), his intestines develop, and then problems with stool, skin rashes and other symptoms of infection. In addition, it is a common problem in our hospitals and maternity hospitals, because the bacterium can be transmitted to a child due to non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards, for example, through intravenous catheters, through the umbilical wound, during artificial ventilation, etc. As a result, an unprotected newborn gets serious infection, which can result in the development of pemphigus, pneumonia, and even sepsis. Then it turns out that breast milk has nothing to do with it. Even if it contains staphylococcus, the mother’s body produces immune bodies to it, which are also passed on to the baby during feeding. There are no cases of serious infection with staphylococcus with proper organization of breastfeeding.

In addition, the WHO, if lactostasis or mastitis develops in the mother, as the main treatment, suggests increasing the number of times the baby is attached to the sore breast so that the baby can resolve the clogged milk ducts. No pumping can do this better than correct and frequent application of the baby to the breast. Breastfeeding is advised to temporarily stop only if a purulent process develops when antibiotic therapy, and possibly even surgery, is already required. But at the same time, feeding with healthy breasts is not prohibited.

If the baby has dysbacteriosis, which is completely normal for a newborn, breast milk will contribute to the proliferation of his own beneficial microflora, which will eventually displace the pathogenic one. Even if staphylococcus is found in a mother’s milk, it will not always be the cause of dysbacteriosis in the child. Most likely, the baby got it either in the maternity hospital, or from the external environment, for example, the baby put an unwashed toy in his mouth, etc.

If the child has it due to infection of the mother (purulent mastitis), then treatment will be required for both mother and baby. Using a bacteriological study, an antibiotic or bacteriophage to which a given type of staphylococcus is sensitive is determined and then effective therapy is carried out. Breastfeeding is stopped temporarily (the mother expresses contaminated milk) or continues, this decision is made depending on the severity of the disease by the doctor.

Thus, the prevention of staphylococcal infection is the correct organization of breastfeeding, which includes early latching of the baby to the breast immediately after birth, prevention of the formation of cracks in the nipples, feeding on demand, as a prevention of the development of lactostasis and mastitis.

Why is staphylococcus detected in breast milk? How does the infection get into the breast? What diseases can it cause in the child and mother? Is treatment possible without stopping breastfeeding? Features of staphylococcal infection during lactation.

Staphylococci are a genus of bacteria widespread in nature. They live in the soil, air, even on the body of humans and animals. Some of them are classified as opportunistic, that is, in small concentrations they do not pose any danger. Epidemic, saprophytic and hemolytic staphylococci can become pathogens only if human immunity weakens, which allows bacterial colonies to develop unhindered.

Called pathogenic, it belongs to the most dangerous type of bacteria for humans. It is capable of causing inflammatory processes in various organs and tissues, provoking purulent sore throats, pustular skin rashes, etc. It can cause infectious mastitis in a nursing mother.

4 popular misconceptions

The detection of staphylococcus in breast milk always becomes a reason for prescribing treatment for both the woman and the child. Doctors often recommend stopping breastfeeding for the period of illness, that is, until the test for staphylococcus in breast milk becomes sterile.

This position is recognized as unjustified by modern medicine. It is based on a number of misconceptions that have so far accompanied the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.

Staphylococcal infection can penetrate the mammary gland from a lesion in a woman’s body or from the surface of the skin. In this case, bacteria do not multiply in the milk itself. They mix with its flow from a lived-in crack in the chest or a clogged duct.

Possible consequences

Staphylococcus infection occurs in several ways.

Droplet-air. Through this “channel” the infection most often spreads in maternity hospitals and hospitals. It is known that strains from medical institutions are especially resistant to antibiotics and are the most difficult to combat. However, proper sanitary treatment of wards destroys the pathogen almost completely. To avoid the spread of bacteria, wards and postpartum departments should be subjected to regular quartz treatment and treatment with a one percent chloramine solution.
Contact. The pathogen colonizes the skin when touching the skin (handshake), hygiene items (shared towels), furniture in public institutions, railings. It is almost impossible to avoid contact with him. To reduce concentration on your hands, regular cleaning with soap and water is enough.
Intrauterine. Women who carry staphylococcal infection may give birth to children with severe symptoms of the disease. Foci of infection are carious cavities, mucous membranes of the throat with chronic tonsillitis, and the intestines of mothers suffering from chronic dysbiosis.

The most common way for staphylococcus to enter breast milk is from the skin of the breast, if present. Injured areas of the skin become “entry gates” for bacteria, the active reproduction of which is promoted by heat and moisture.

Therefore, the best prevention of staphylococcus during lactation is taking care of the condition of the mammary glands and fighting cracks. They, in turn, are most often caused by improper attachment of the baby to the breast.

A high concentration of bacteria in milk and the presence of accompanying factors stimulate the development of diseases.

The risk of developing the disease increases if the child:

born prematurely, does not gain weight;
is sick, resulting in reduced immunity;
In addition to breast milk, she receives water and formula.

Symptoms of staphylococcus in breast milk are determined by the focus of the inflammatory process in the body of the baby and mother.

These symptoms in a baby of staphylococcus in breast milk require immediate medical attention. Treatment of acute, severe diseases occurs exclusively in a hospital, as they pose a threat to the baby’s life. Self-medication with folk remedies is unacceptable. Suppression of infection is ensured only by combination therapy using antibiotics, antimicrobial agents, and vitamins.

Breastfeeding during infection

Staphylococcus can cause severe diseases, but in most cases its danger is exaggerated. Each doctor must approach the prescription of therapy, and even more so recommend stopping breastfeeding, individually.

“There are no pathogenic microflora in breast milk,” says Yakov Yakovlev, a doctor of the highest category, AKEV expert. - It contains only those bacteria that make up healthy intestinal microflora. If a pathogen is found in milk, it means it got there from the skin or ducts. But even if it ends up in a child’s intestines, it does not necessarily cause any disease.”

Breast milk contains immunoglobulins and a whole range of substances that protect the baby’s body from infections. Dangerous bacteria entering it from the mother's skin are completely suppressed by the local intestinal microflora.

According to Yakov Yakovlev, when staphylococcus is detected in breast milk, treatment in most cases is not required:

treat the mother if staphylococcus is detected during culture;
treat the child if bacteria are detected in the milk;
have the milk microflora tested, since it contains no pathogenic bacteria.

Treatment is prescribed in the following situations.

Infectious maternal mastitis. Therapy for the affected breast includes maintaining breastfeeding and increasing the number of breastfeedings. According to WHO recommendations, staphylococcal mastitis is not a reason to interrupt breastfeeding. But it requires treatment with antibiotics, many of which are completely compatible with the lactation period.
Clinical picture of staphylococcal infection in a child. The decision to temporarily wean is made individually, if there is a high concentration of bacteria in the milk. However, it is important to remember that milk itself is not the source of the disease; its cause lies in factors that reduce the baby’s immunity.

Modern medicine recommends being guided by the child’s well-being when it comes to maintaining breastfeeding when a staphylococcal infection is detected, clarifies the leading specialist of the Federal Research Institute of Medical Problems of Health Development of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation L. V. Abolyan. - Even if the mother is diagnosed with staphylococcus, there are cracks in the breast, but the child feels well and breastfeeding can be continued.

This opinion is supported by the famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky. “If the baby is calm, cheerful, there is no fever, purulent discharge or abdominal pain, then the bacteria are neutralized by antibodies. And you pass them on to your baby through breast milk.”

Candidate of Medical Sciences, pediatric gastroenterologist Yuri Kopanev recommends local therapy for the mother without stopping breastfeeding. “It is not necessary to treat the disease with antibiotics,” Yuri Aleksandrovich clarifies. - A good effect is ensured by treating the mammary glands with herbal antiseptics - “Chlorophyllipt” or “Rotokan” for two to three weeks. During this time, the wounds on the nipples will disappear, and with them the germs.”

There can be many reasons for the detection of staphylococcus in breast milk: from the presence of lesions on the skin of the breast to incorrect sampling. Although in practice it is impossible to take the test “correctly”, that is, in conditions of complete sterility. Therefore, the issue of treating the disease should be approached carefully. Therapy is indicated for the mother if there are cracks in the skin of the mammary glands. And to a child with a clear clinical picture of staphylococcal infection.