Sporadic (nonepidemic) puerperal mastitis

Sporadic puerperal mastitis is an acute cellulitis, characterized by fever and segmental erythema in the breast. Staphylococcus aureus can be cultured in approximately one-half of the cases. With early antibiotic therapy, the infection can be cleared and abscess formation prevented. Breast engorgement may also contribute to abscess formation, and so nursing should not be discontinued. No ill effects are observed in infants who continue to nurse. Twenty women with acute puerperal mastitis had breast milk cultures, and Staphylococcus aureus was recovered in seven cases. All patients were treated with antibiotics and continued nursing. No abscesses developed, and no ill effects were observed in any infants.