Hygienic and sanitary conditions of hospital milk dispensaries

The aim of this study was to perform a situational and sanitary diagnosis in milk dispensaries of pediatric hospitals in a municipality in central Brazil, with the characterization of the hygienic and sanitary conditions in the location. This investigation happened in two stages, before and after intervention, which consisted of a training about good handling practices for the professionals involved in the formula production process. For microbiological analyses, 640 samples were obtained from milk dispensaries of five hospitals. The microorganisms found indicate flaws in the operational procedures, offering risks to patients. Interventions were an important tool to improve the process. The unsatisfactory hygienic and sanitary conditions, demonstrated in the applied checklist, may offer risks to the quality of Infant Milk Formulas produced in the milk dispensaries studied. In order for the food to be offered safely to interned infants, both inspection from Sanitary Surveillance and specific infant sanitary legislation are necessary