Mastitis and breast abscess

Last reviewed: 27 Apr 2023
Last updated: 24 Mar 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • fever
  • decreased milk outflow
  • breast warmth
  • breast tenderness
  • breast firmness
  • breast swelling
  • breast erythema
  • flu-like symptoms, malaise, and myalgia
  • breast pain
  • breast mass
  • fistula
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • nipple discharge
  • nipple inversion/retraction
  • lymphadenopathy
  • extra-mammary skin lesions
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • female sex
  • women aged >30 years
  • poor breast-feeding technique
  • lactation
  • milk stasis
  • nipple injury
  • previous mastitis
  • prolonged mastitis (breast abscess)
  • prior breast abscess (breast abscess)
  • shaving or plucking areola hair
  • anatomical breast defect, mammoplasty, or scar
  • other underlying breast condition
  • nipple piercing
  • foreign body
  • skin infection
  • Staphylococcus aureus carrier
  • immunosuppression
  • hospital admission
  • breast trauma
  • primiparity
  • overabundant milk supply
  • postmaturity (breast abscess)
  • complications of delivery
  • maternal fatigue
  • tight clothing
  • antifungal nipple cream
  • fibrocystic breast disease
  • cigarette smoking
  • vaginal manipulation (breast abscess)
  • poor nutrition
  • antiretroviral therapy
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • breast ultrasound
  • diagnostic needle aspiration drainage
  • cytology of nipple discharge or sample from fine-needle aspiration
  • milk, aspirate, discharge, or biopsy tissue for culture and sensitivity
  • histopathologic examination of biopsy tissue
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • pregnancy test
  • blood culture and sensitivity
  • mammogram
  • milk for leukocyte counts and bacteria quantification
  • CBC
  • tuberculin skin test (purified protein derivative)
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

lactational mastitis

nonlactational mastitis

breast abscess

ONGOING

breast abscess post acute intervention

recurrence of mastitis and/or breast abscess

Contributors

Authors

Jesse Casaubon, DO, FSSO

Breast Surgical Oncologist

Baystate Health

Springfield

MA

Disclosures

JC declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Jesse Casaubon would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Holly S. Mason, Dr Jose A. Martagon-Villamil, Dr Daniel Skiest, Dr Gina Berthold, and Dr Liron Pantanowitz, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

HSM, JAMV, DS, and GB declare that they have no competing interests. LP is a co-author of references cited in this topic.

Peer reviewers

Edward Sauter, MD, PhD

Program Officer

National Institutes of Health

National Cancer Institute

Rockville

MD

Disclosures

ES declares that he has no competing interests.

Justin Stebbing, MA, MRCP, MRCPath, PhD

Consultant Medical Oncologist/Senior Lecturer

Department of Medical Oncology

Imperial College/Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust

Charing Cross Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

JS declares that he has no competing interests.

William C. Dooley, MD

The G. Rainey Williams Professor of Surgical Oncology

University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma City

OK

Disclosures

WD declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Mastitis and breast abscess images
  • Differentials

    • Breast engorgement
    • Nipple sensitivity
    • Galactocele
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • ABM clinical protocol #4: mastitis
    • Breast abscesses: evidence-based algorithms for diagnosis, management, and follow-up
    More Guidelines
  • Patient leaflets

    Mastitis in breastfeeding women

    Mastitis: breastfeeding advice

    More Patient leaflets
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