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Breast Infection

Mastitis

This is where there's inflammation of breast tissue +/- infection. It's a common complication of breastfeeding (aka puerperal mastitis). The 2 things it can be caused by is:

  • Obstruction in ducts and accumulation of milk – Regular feeding will prevent this

  • Infection – Most common bacteria is staph aureus


Risk factors - Irregular breastfeeding, Smoking, Damage to nipple (e.g. nipple eczema, piercings), Breast disease (e.g. cancer)


Presentation:

  • Painful, tender breast

  • Local erythema and warmth in focal area

  • Nipple discharge

  • Fever


Management:

  • Continued breastfeeding, warm showers and analgesia

    • Flucloxacillin if lactational mastitis

    • Co-amoxiclav if non-lactational mastitis


Complication - Breast abscess

“Breast with mastitis” © XXXANONXXX3245 CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Breast Abscess

The 2 types of this are:

  • Lactational abscess (associated with breastfeeding)

  • Non-lactational abscess (unrelated to breastfeeding)


A common cause of it is Staph aureus.


Presentation:

  • That of Mastitis

  • Swollen, fluctuant (fluid-filled), tender lump


Investigations and Management:

  • US

  • Abx

  • Incision and drainage



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