title: History, physical and laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes of lactating women treated with antibiotics for chronic breast and/or nipple pain.
abstract: This chart review study describes the history, physical and laboratory findings, and clinical outcomes in patients who presented to a lactation specialist between 1997 and 2002 and were treated with antibiotics for their chronic breast and/or nipple pain. A total of 69 charts were reviewed. Five were excluded because of loss of follow-up. Eighty-two percent of patients described postpartum breast tenderness, 74% had nipple sores postpartum, and 79% were tender on physical examination. Nipple lesions were present among 73% of the women. Breast milk or nipple cultures were performed for 60 of 64 patients and were positive for pathogenic bacteria among 50% of the patients cultured. The average duration of antibiotic treatment was 5.7 weeks, and 94% of the women had pain resolution. Symptoms of deep breast aching, breast tenderness on palpation, and nipple lesions may be suggestive of a bacterial lactiferous duct infection. Treatment with antibiotics for 4 to 6 weeks may be appropriate.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Medical School, Meriter Hospital Outpatient Lactation Clinic, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin 53572, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eglash
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Plane
authors.forename: Marlon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mundt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008413:Mastitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009558:Nipples / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents