Breast Milk and Group B Streptococcus

7/20/2021

Suzy Lim, PhD

About presenter

Dr Suzy Lim is currently a post-doctoral researcher at St George’s University of London, her work focuses on the development of assays to assess antibody functional and investigate the neonatal response to GBS infection.
She earnt her Bachelors of Science in Microbiology at the University of Leicester in 2011 and her PhD in Infection and Immunity at the University of Liverpool in 2017. Her thesis assessed the efficacy of an immune modulating peptide in the treatment of bacterial sepsis. After completing her PhD, Suzanna went on to work on projects at the University of Liverpool focused on the development of novel antimicrobial therapies for Pseudomonas and Cryptococcus before joining the team at St George’s in 2019.

Diana Dunsmore

7/20/2021 10:20:55 pm

Thank you for this work and pleasant presentation.
I am curious about what exactly is involved with testing breast milk? As my LO @ 3-weeks-old grandson received week 5, then 6 of antibiotics I suggested that the milk be tested. Neither the pediatrician nor the infectious disease specialist knew how to have it done! My son was uncomfortable pushing the issue then. The poor little guy had a total of 8 weeks and deals with multiple conditions now. This was just 3 years ago at a respectable children's hospital. Where lies the information/education responsibility and gap there? With the doctors, the lab? Has awareness improved in how to test since? What steps can be taken in that regard please?

Suzy

7/23/2021 01:21:02 am

As far as I am aware there isn't a standardised method for testing breast milk for GBS but it would probably be tested for by culturing on nutrient agars or broths. I think the biggest issue would not be the testing itself but that there isn't evidence to guide what we do with the result. A negative result will be a great reassurance to the family but a positive result could cause a lot of worry when we don't currently know what the best course of action is.

Group B Strep International

7/21/2021 06:49:25 am

Thank you, Dr. Lim, for your excellent presentation on breast milk and GBS. Appreciate you sharing your expertise with us!

Suzy Lim

7/23/2021 01:22:37 am

Thank you having me present :)

Ronald Librizzi, DO

7/21/2021 07:31:57 am

Thank you for bringing up an issue that I was unaware of as an advocate of breast-feeding. Great presentation.

Suzy Lim

7/23/2021 01:24:30 am

Thank you - breast milk really is amazing liquid, so many benefits!

Emma Huber

7/21/2021 02:51:11 pm

I didn't know about retrograde flow BACK into the breast. Does that mean that if my baby had GBS, THEY could infect the milk instead of GBS being in the milk already??

Suzy Lim

7/23/2021 01:36:00 am

Yes, it is possible for GBS in breast milk to be the result of GBS from the babies mouth being sucked back in the milk duct. It is seen more commonly when the baby has a high level of GBS in their mouth.

James mcgregor

7/21/2021 04:53:37 pm

Thank you for addressing these I examined lactation related conundrums. Hope you publish your review ASAP. 1) should banked breast milk be tested for GBS etc, 2) could you opine on how to culture?3)does biofilm control offer any advantages 5) should babies mouths be cultured in the work up of maternal mastis; 6 what’s to learn from industrial cow milk production? Thanks again.

Suzy Lim

7/23/2021 03:49:26 am

1. Banked breast milk would normally be pasteurised - this would kill any GBS present.
2. Cultures could be done with blood agar or a Chromagenic agar where GBS appear a different colour to other bacteria but until we know what to do with a positive result testing would be of limited use.
3. For bacteria to cause disease it needs to be able to persist in the body - biofilms help bacteria to persist and help them avoid clearance by the immune system so anything that limits biofilm production should help reduce disease.
5. I don't think babies mouths should be cultured in cases of maternal mastitis - I doubt the results would be of much use as their mouths are going to be full of lots of different bacteria!
6. I can't say I know a lot about cows but I believe most cow's milk is pasteurised as it can potentially contain very dangerous bacteria. Currently we don't know what risk GBS in breast milk poses but we do know that heat treating reduces the nutritional value and would destroy some of the biologically active components which are so beneficial to the baby.

Marti Perhach

7/22/2021 05:18:23 pm

Thank you for your easy-to-understand presentation! Women often contact GBSI with questions about GBS in breast milk. Glad to have this resource to share with them!

Suzy Lim

7/23/2021 03:54:17 am

Thank you for having me present - I really enjoyed putting this presentation together and hope people find it useful :)

Comments are closed.

Breast Milk and Group B Streptococcus

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