Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about lactational mastitis.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero definals.com slash lactational mastitis

or in the postnatal care section of the zero definals

obstetrics and gynecology book. So let's get straight into it. Mastitis refers to inflammation

of breast tissue and it's a common complication of breastfeeding. It can occur with or without associated infection.

Mastitis can be caused by obstruction in the ducts and the accumulation of milk.

Regularly expressing breast milk can help to prevent this from occurring.

Mastitis can also be caused by infection.

Bacteria enter at the nipple and backtrack into the ducts causing infection and inflammation.

The most common bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.

Let's talk about the presentation.

Mastitis presents with breast pain and tenderness, which is typically unilateral,

erythema or redness in a focal area of the breast tissue, local warmth and inflammation,

nipple discharge, and fever.

Next let's talk about management.

Where mastitis is caused by blockage of the ducks, management is conservative,

with continued breastfeeding, expressing milk and breast massage.

Heat packs, warm showers and simple analgesia can help with the symptoms.

When conservative management is not effective or infection is suspected, for example if they

have a fever, antibiotic should be started. Flucoxicillin is the first-line

antibiotic or erythromycin if allergic to penicillin. A sample of milk can be sent to the lab

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