title: Prevalence of bacteria in the nipple discharge of patients with duct ectasia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the aerobic and the anaerobic microorganisms which can be related to duct ectasia. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised 100 patients with coloured nipple discharge (duct ectasia group), and Group 2 (the control group) was composed of 50 patients without nipple discharge. The culture media used were BHI-PRAS, blood agar, mannitol agar and MacConkey agar. There was a high frequency of bacterial growth in the two groups: 85% in Group 1 and 88% in Group 2. The most prevalent bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. There was a statistically significant higher rate of smokers in the duct ectasia group compared with the control group, 25 (25%) patients vs. 5 (10%), respectively (p = 0.03). These findings allow us to put forth the hypothesis that the genesis of duct ectasia may be a non-infectious inflammatory process.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Goiania, Brazil.
authors.forename: R M S
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rahal
authors.forename: R Freitas
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: J C Almeida
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Paulinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects