Breast Infection / Mastitis
Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue that often occurs during breastfeeding. It happens when bacterial flora from the skin enters through the milk duct via a cracked nipple.
Common Causes
Breastfeeding or lactating breasts – related infection
- Cracked nipple
- Engorged breasts
- Poor emptying of milk due to poor latching due to teething issues, tongue-tie
- Milk stasis or block ducts
- Missed feeding or infrequent feeding
Non-breastfeeding related infection / Periductal Mastitis
- Usually seen in middle-aged women
- Women who smoke
- Women with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM)
- Due to duct ectasia or dilated duct resulting in stasis of duct discharge with bacterial proliferating within and irritating and causes inflammation to the duct lining
Symptoms of engorged breasts, tender and swollen breasts with redness
Pus discharge from drainage of abscess
Management
Breastfeeding related Mastitis
- Expressing breast milk regularly and correctly
- Expressing milk with breast pump at regular hours
- Massaging your breasts before feeding
- Empty or express the breast milk once you feel the breasts engorged even though its not time yet
Mastitis - General Management
Conservative
- Antibiotics.
- US guided aspiration of liquefied abscess may be possible
Surgical Management
- Surgical incision and drainage of abscess under GA
- Open wound will need regular wound dressing till heal.
- For those women who are breastfeeding, she can still continue to breastfeed during this period with the help of the surgeon to monitor the wound