OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de microrganismos indicadores e potencialmente patogênicos que indicam as condições higiênico-sanitárias das amostras de leite humano ordenhado coletadas em banco de leite. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas de 338 amostras de leite humano ordenhado, sendo 194 de leite cru e 144, pasteurizado, coletadas em banco de leite humano de um hospital materno infantil de Goiânia, GO. As análises microbiológicas foram realizadas com semeadura em ágar Mc Conkey, de acordo com o tipo de bactéria. RESULTADOS: No leite cru, verificou-se a presença de Staphylococcus spp. Streptococcus spp., bolores e leveduras e Enterobacteriaceae. Observou-se que Staphylococcus aureus esteve presente em 10 (5,2%) amostras, Staphylococcus epidermidis em 28 (14,4%), Streptococcus spp. em três (1,6%), bolores e leveduras em 43 (22,2%) e Enterobacteriaceae em 49 (25,3%). Das 144 amostras de leite humano ordenhado pasteurizado, detectaram-se Staphylococcus aureus em cinco (3,5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis em 15 (10,4%), Staphylococcus lugdenensis em duas (1,4%), Streptococcus spp. em quatro (2,8%), bolores e leveduras em 37 (25,7%) e Enterobacteriaceae em nove (6,3%). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados mostraram um alto grau de contaminação no leite cru. No leite pasteurizado, apesar da eliminação da grande maioria de microrganismos potencialmente patogênicos, a percentagem de bolores e leveduras excedeu a de leite cru, mostrando a necessidade de obtenção de um leite com carga microbiana inicial mais baixa para que a pasteurização seja eficiente no controle microbiológico.
OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms that indicate the hygienic and sanitary conditions of human milk samples collected at a Human Milk Bank. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty eight (338) samples of human milk collected from a milk bank in a maternity in the municipality of Goiânia, in the state of Goias, Brazil were submitted to microbiological analysis. The latter were plated on McConkey agar according to the type of bacteria. Among the total number of samples collected, 194 consisted of raw milk and the remaining 144 were pasteurized milk. RESULTS: The presence of Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., yeasts and molds, and Enterobacteriaceae was verified in the raw milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 10 (5.2%) samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 28 (14.4%) samples, Streptococcus spp. in three (1.6%) samples, yeasts and molds in 43 (22.2%) and Enterobacteriaceae in 49 (25.3%) samples. In a hundred and forty four (144) samples which underwent thermal treatment Staphylococcus aureus was detected in five (3.5%) samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 15 (10.4%), Staphylococcus lugdenensis in two (1.4%), Streptococcus spp. in four (2.8%), yeasts and molds in 37 (25.7%), and Enterobacteriaceae in nine (6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis indicated a high degree of contamination in raw human milk, and as for the pasteurized milk, despite elimination of the great majority of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the percentage of yeasts and molds was higher than in raw milk, demonstrating that a lower degree of initial contamination would be necessary for pasteurization to be an efficient means of microbiological control.