Dear Karen and lactnet friends,

last week I noted a new sign affixed to the breastmilk freezer in the nicu,
saying
Biohazardous material.  Investigating where this came from, I received an
email from the infection control department along with a fax from "Infection
Control and
Epidemiology"', the article was entitled: Guidelines for Isoation in
Hospitals. It is from 1996, probably after the latest BAB went to print.  The
have changed Universal precations to Standard precautions and say that it
includes: blood, all body secretions except for sweat, non-intact skin, and
mucous membranes.  The infection control dept. is saying that osha, jcaho and
this article from the cdc, now prompts the department to label all
refrigerators/freezers so that there is no mixing of specimens, nourishments
and staff foods.   Obviously, the milk is being looked at as a specimen, vs
nourishment (eg ensure on the geriatric ward, diabetic snacks etc).
Even though she sent this she also sshe was open to any data I had to support
not putting the sign up.  On nov 5, Karen commented on lactnet that (from
BAB) the cdc (1988)and osha agreed that b.milk is not a biohazardous
substance.   Because this was dated 1988 and the article was 1996, I thought
I better seek clarification.

Any takers?  Lois Arnold, are you out there?

Thanks
Chris Auer (cincinnati)