Mastitis, breast abscess

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast with or without infection. Mastitis with infection can be lactational or non-lactational. Lactational breast infection affects women aged 15 to 45. The most common causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus. Proper and timely treatment helps to heal and avoid complications such as breast abscess. Non-infectious mastitis includes granulomatous inflammations and other inflammatory conditions. Both infectious and non-infectious mastitis are treated with antibiotics and effective removal of milk from the breast. Breast abscess is a localized infection with pus. It is treated with needle aspiration, and if insufficient, 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