Salmonella contagion is spread by the fecal to oral route. It can not be transmitted through *breastfeeding* unless a carrier touches the breast with unclean hands before the baby's mouth is in contact with it. Salmonella in the food supply comes from fecal contamination. Bacteria from the feces of an infected carrier are introduced into the food at some point between production and consumption and unless the food is heat treated in between contamination and consumption, whoever ingests the food may fall ill. Two cases so far apart in the same NICU would seem to point to something other than food as a vector. More likely an asymptomatic carrier on staff with poor hand hygiene, yuck. NICU patients receiving expressed breastmilk that is fed by someone else in the mother's absence could be infected through the milk or through the utensils/equipment used to deliver the feed. Rachel Myr Daughter, double granddaughter and grandniece to microbiologists :-) Kristiansand *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome