Highlights & Basics
- Breast infections (including infectious mastitis and breast abscess) more commonly affect women aged 15-45 years, especially those who are lactating. However, mastitis and breast abscess can occur at any age.
- Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent pathogen isolated.
- Prompt and appropriate management of mastitis usually leads to a timely resolution and prevents complications, such as a breast abscess.
- Breast abscess requires both the removal of pus and antibiotic therapy. Interventions can include aspiration and incision and drainage procedures.
- It is imperative to identify and treat any underlying coexistent causes of infection to facilitate resolution and prevent recurrence. It is also necessary to exclude breast carcinoma.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Nonlactating breast abscess due to periductal mastitis
Lactational mastitis: microscopy image showing hypersecretory glands associated with inflammation
Duct ectasia with a central calcified keratin plug and associated giant cell inflammatory response
Tubercular mastitis: mammogram showing a mass lesion in the upper outer quadrant
Microscopy image of non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation in the breast
Ultrasound image showing a well-circumscribed hypoechoic breast abscess
Needle aspiration of a breast abscess under ultrasound guidance: note the needle piercing the abscess to the right of the image
Aspirated material: a group of benign apocrine cells associated with acute and chronic inflammation in keeping with a breast abscess (ThinPrep stain)
A breast abscess that developed during breast-feeding
Leukocyte counts and bacteria quantification in breast milk
Citations
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Trop I, Dugas A, David J, et al. Breast abscesses: evidence-based algorithms for diagnosis, management, and follow-up. Radiographics. 2011 Oct;31(6):1683-99.[Abstract][Full Text]
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