Curriculum · Gynecology / Women's Health / Infertility / Perinatal Care / Birth Spacing
Lactational mastitis
What it is
Mastitis is infection of the breast. Cracking of the skin around the nipple allows bacteria from the skin surface to enter the breast duct, where it grows and attracts inflammatory cells. Those cells release substances to fight the infection, but they also cause breast tissue swelling and increased blood flow, and that is what makes the breast hot, red and painful. Of the two forms, the lactating form is the more common one; the non-lactating forms go with streptococcus and sit around the periareolar region or in the periphery. Milk stasis is often the initiating factor, and inadequate milk removal is what predisposes to the bacterial growth of infectious mastitis. It affects around 1 in 10 breast feeding women.
Causes and risk
Lactating mastitis is caused by staph. aureus, and in any type of breast infection staph is usually the most common organism. Milk stasis is one of the causes. The risk factors are poor breastfeed technique, not alternating between both sides, not wearing a well-fitting maternal support bra, abruptly discontinuing the breastfeed and a past history of mastitis.