title: Nonpuerperal breast infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Service Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alados
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Rosa