Breast milk and infection

Abstract

The benefits of breast feeding are numerous. However, breast milk is implicated in the transmission of many infectious agents to the newborn infant. Human immunodeficiency virus and, in certain populations, human T-cell leukaemia virus type I are the most important. Transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses is controversial, although recent data suggests that the risk of transmission is low. The use of banked expressed breast milk, still popular in some countries, as well as management of the accidental exposure of a baby to another mother's breast milk, will also be discussed.