Safety and reduction of pasteurized donor human milk waste using a 48-h post-thaw usage policy: a retrospective observational and bacteriological study.
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan. [email protected].
- 2Department of Pediatrics, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
Background
Pasteurized donor human milk (PHDM) is recommended for preterm infants when the mother's own milk is unavailable, as it reduces complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis and supports the early initiation of human milk feeding. Current guidelines in Japan require thawed PDHM to be discarded after 24 h, although emerging evidence suggests that PDHM may remain safe for up to 48 h. This study evaluated the microbiological safety of PDHM at 48 h post-thawing and estimated the amount of waste that could be potentially reduced if the allowable use period were extended.Methods
Forty PHDM samples provided by the Japan Human Milk Bank were thawed and stored at 4 °C. Aliquots were collected at 24 and 48 h post-thawing for quantitative bacterial culture. To estimate potential waste reduction, the medical records of 23 neonates who received PDHM were retrospectively reviewed. For each neonate, the actual PDHM intake, thawed volume, and discarded volume were recorded up to day 15 of life, and the expected reduction in waste under a 48-h use policy was calculated.Results
No bacterial growth was detected in any sample at 24-48 h post-thawing. Among 23 preterm infants who received PDHM, extending the allowable post-thaw usage period to 48h was estimated to save 2,051 mL of PDHM and potentially reduce discarded volume by 84.7%.Conclusions
Under routine neonatal intensive care units (NICU) conditions, PDHM remained microbiologically sterile for up to 48 h after thawing. Extending the usage period to 48 h could substantially reduce PDHM waste and help maintain a more stable supply of donor human milk in the NICU. Ensuring a stable PDHM supply may facilitate the early initiation of human milk feeding and support breastfeeding.
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BibTeX
@article{yoshino2026safety,
title = {{Safety and reduction of pasteurized donor human milk waste using a 48-h post-thaw usage policy: a retrospective observational and bacteriological study.}},
author = {Hinako Yoshino and Tomomasa Terada and Katsumi Mizuno},
journal = {International breastfeeding journal},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s13006-026-00877-y},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968157},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Safety and reduction of pasteurized donor human milk waste using a 48-h post-thaw usage policy: a retrospective observational and bacteriological study.
AU - Hinako Yoshino
AU - Tomomasa Terada
AU - Katsumi Mizuno
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - International breastfeeding journal
DO - 10.1186/s13006-026-00877-y
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968157
AB - Background Pasteurized donor human milk (PHDM) is recommended for preterm infants when the mother's own milk is unavailable, as it reduces complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis and supports the early initiation of human milk feeding. Current guidelines in Japan require thawed PDHM to be discarded after 24 h, although emerging evidence suggests that PDHM may remain safe for up to 48 h. This study evaluated the microbiological safety of PDHM at 48 h post-thawing and estimated the amount of waste that could be potentially reduced if the allowable use period were extended.Methods Forty PHDM samples provided by the Japan Human Milk Bank were thawed and stored at 4 °C. Aliquots were collected at 24 and 48 h post-thawing for quantitative bacterial culture. To estimate potential waste reduction, the medical records of 23 neonates who received PDHM were retrospectively reviewed. For each neonate, the actual PDHM intake, thawed volume, and discarded volume were recorded up to day 15 of life, and the expected reduction in waste under a 48-h use policy was calculated.Results No bacterial growth was detected in any sample at 24-48 h post-thawing. Among 23 preterm infants who received PDHM, extending the allowable post-thaw usage period to 48h was estimated to save 2,051 mL of PDHM and potentially reduce discarded volume by 84.7%.Conclusions Under routine neonatal intensive care units (NICU) conditions, PDHM remained microbiologically sterile for up to 48 h after thawing. Extending the usage period to 48 h could substantially reduce PDHM waste and help maintain a more stable supply of donor human milk in the NICU. Ensuring a stable PDHM supply may facilitate the early initiation of human milk feeding and support breastfeeding.
SN - 1746-4358
ER -