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Mastitis is painful inflammation of the breast, usually accompanied by infection.

Fever later in the puerperium is frequently due to mastitis. Symptoms include high fever, erythema, induration, tenderness, pain, swelling, and warmth to the touch.

Treatment includes encouragement of fluid intake and antibiotics aimed at Staphylococcus aureus, the most common causative pathogen. Examples are dicloxacillin Some Trade Names
DYCILL
DYNAPEN
PATHOCIL
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500 mg po q 6 h for 7 to 10 days and, for women allergic to penicillin, erythromycin Some Trade Names
ERY-TAB
ERYTHROCIN
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250 mg po q 6 h. If women do not improve and do not have an abscess, vancomycin Some Trade Names
VANCOCIN
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1 g IV q 12 h or cefotetan Some Trade Names
CEFOTAN
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1 to 2 g IV q 12 h to cover resistant organisms should be considered. Breastfeeding should be continued during treatment because treatment includes emptying the affected breast. Breast abscesses are very rare and are treated with incision, drainage, and antibiotics aimed at S. aureus.

Last full review/revision November 2005

Content last modified November 2005