Expressed human milk contains a variety of what type of flora?

• A. Sterile contents
• B. A variety of normal skin flora
• C. Only pathogenic bacteria
• D. No microflora

Answer: (B)

Expressed human milk is not sterile; it carries a microbiota that includes a variety of bacteria derived from the mother’s skin and other exposures. This collection of commensal organisms, often described as normal skin flora, contributes to the milk’s microbial diversity. This flora helps seed the infant gut and supports immune development. So the best description is that expressed human milk contains a variety of normal skin flora. It isn’t sterile, it isn’t limited to pathogens, and it does have microflora.