Mastitis

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue with or without infection. Infectious mastitis may be lactational or non-lactational. Lactational mastitis most commonly affects breastfeeding women between 15 and 45 years of age. The most common causative pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. Prompt and appropriate treatment promotes recovery and helps prevent complications such as a breast abscess. Non-infectious mastitis includes granulomatous mastitis and other inflammatory breast disorders. Infectious mastitis is treated with antibiotics and effective breast milk drainage. A breast abscess is a localized collection of pus within the breast tissue. It is primarily treated with needle aspiration, and if this is unsuccessful, with incision and drainage.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology