Nonpuerperal breast infection.
OBJECTIVE
We undertook a microbiological study of purulent specimens from women with symptomatic breast abscesses.


METHODS
Fifty-one purulent samples were collected in 2 periods (December 1991-April 1992 and January 1994-June 1994) from nonpuerperal breast abscesses in 44 patients attending our hospital.


RESULTS
One of the most frequently isolated microorganisms was Proteus mirabilis (9 patients, 20.4%), present as a pure culture in all but 1 specimen (isolated together with Peptostreptococcus spp.). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 10 specimens, 6 of which were post-tumorectomy abscesses. Polymicrobial anaerobic flora were isolated in 11 specimens (21.5%); Staphylococcus epidermidis in 4 (8%); and Streptococcus milleri,Alcaligenes sp., and mixed aerobic-anaerobic flora in 1 specimen each. The 7 remaining samples (13.7%) were negative bacteriological cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
We draw attention to the frequent isolation of P. mirabilis in recurrent and torpid breast abscesses in 4 women in whom surgery was necessary in addition to antibiotic treatment.
Casas
C M
CM
Microbiology Service Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Granada, Spain.
Pérez
M
M
Alados
J C
JC
Fontes
J
J
Orellana
G
G
Aguilar
J M
JM
Miranda
J A
JA
de la Rosa
M
M