Diane, I remember as a med student an infectious disease specialist telling me that stool is 85% bacteria. This was an adult ID specialist so I don't know if that would apply to an exclusively BF baby. The other issue is are the bacteria pathogenic? People do get exposed to stool of others as evidenced by diseases transmitted by fecal oral route such as rotavirus. (Collective gag as we realize we ingested other peoples' stool) This is also one way how oral polio vaccine helped create heard immunity. My guess is if your changing the diapers you've already been exposed to some degree. Awhile ago the Peds Infectious Disease Journal had an article "Diarrhea, whose feces matter". It talked of a place in Peru without rainfall. What I remember from it is 1. children are not at risk from their own stool. 2. Dog feces is usually not hazardous once dried and 3. I'm glad I live in a 1st world country. -Rob Rob Cordes, DO, FAAP, FACOP Wilkes Barre, PA mailto:[log in to unmask]