A significant new statistic emerges from Australian neonatal research: infants born before 32 weeks gestation who received donated breast milk from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood experienced a 38% reduction in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) rates compared to those without donor milk access. This finding, published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, represents the first comprehensive Australian evidence quantifying the protective effect of human milk banking in very preterm populations.
The statistic carries substantial clinical weight given NEC’s severe impact in neonatal intensive care. With mortality rates of 15–30% in affected infants, even modest risk reductions translate to life-saving interventions. This 38% reduction demonstrates that systematically screened and processed donor milk provides robust protection against one of neonatology’s most serious complications. The evidence supports evidence-based policy decisions regarding resource allocation for milk bank expansion and infrastructure development.
Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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