Hi Kim,

I was wondering when the cultures are taken?  Not to oversimplify your situation, but it is my understanding that breast milk cultured closest to the time of expression will have a higher count than after a few hours. 

This article published this year in the Journal of Perinatology indicates that culturing is not an effective way of preventing infection in premature infants: 

Journal of Perinatology (2011) 31, 335–338; doi:10.1038/jp.2011.13; published online 24 February 2011
Breastmilk cultures and infection in extremely premature infants
R J Schanler1,2, J K Fraley3, C Lau3, N M Hurst3, L Horvath4 and S N Rossmann5

http://www.nature.com/jp/journal/v31/n5/full/jp201113a.html  

Good luck in your challenge.
Martha

Martha Hackney, RN, BScN, IBCLC
Public Health Nurse, Maternal and Infant Health
Toronto Public Health
850 Coxwell Ave,
Toronto, ON M4C 5R1

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