DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i08.013

Pages: 3013-3016

Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast that may or may not is accompanied by infection. It is a preventable complication during breastfeeding but women are unaware regarding its management and prevention. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical [RIMS], Adilabad. Institutional Ethical committee permission was obtained for the study. Patients with lactational mastitis attending surgical OPD were studied. History was taken and clinical examination was done and ultrasound scanning was done. Breast milk samples were analyzed in the context of a study about the microbiology of mastitis. Results: Out of the 2321 patients studied 39 cases were detected with lactational mastitis the incidence of mastitis in our study was 1.68%. The most common clinical sign and symptom of mastitis in 39 patients in decreasing order was Breast engorgement in 41.02% of cases, Erythema in 23.07% of patients, cracked nipple in 12.82% of cases, Edema in 7.7% patients, ulceration in 5.1% patients, and swollen lymph nodes in 1.0% of patients. In this study 13 samples were sent for culture and sensitivity out of which 8 (61.53%) were positive for Staphylococcus aureus, 4 (30.77%) were positive for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus and 1 (7.69%) was positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The methods of management of the patients involved with mastitis were only antibiotics were given in (n=21) 53.84% of cases followed by Incision and drainage in (n=13) 33.33% cases and Aspiration in (n=5) 2.82% of cases. Conclusion: the incidence of mastitis is slightly higher in this group of the population due to lack of lactational counseling. It is a major predisposing factor apart from that lack of education and poverty are other factors. Most of the cases of mastitis were found in the first three months of lactation. Mastitis is a problem of public health concern since it often results in early weaning and