Overview
Neonatal mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue in newborns. It can present as localized inflammation or progress to a more severe infection.Diagnosis
Diagnosis is typically based on clinical presentation, including erythema, edema, tenderness, and possible purulent discharge from the nipple 1.
Cultures of expressed milk or breast abscess aspirate may be obtained to identify the causative organism and guide antibiotic therapy 1.Management
Treatment generally involves antibiotics, with the choice guided by local resistance patterns and suspected pathogens 1.
For suspected or confirmed Streptococcus infections, penicillin or cephalosporins are often considered first-line agents 1.
Supportive care may include warm compresses and analgesia 1.
Surgical drainage may be necessary for abscess formation 1.Special Populations
Preterm neonates may benefit from oropharyngeal colostrum application (OPCA), which has been shown to reduce the incidence of culture-proven sepsis 1. OPCA also reduced mortality, necrotizing enterocolitis, and feeding intolerance in preterm neonates 1.Key Recommendations
Oropharyngeal colostrum application (OPCA) significantly reduces the incidence of culture-proven sepsis in preterm neonates 1. (Evidence: Strong)
Oropharyngeal colostrum application (OPCA) significantly reduces mortality in preterm neonates 1. (Evidence: Strong)
Oropharyngeal colostrum application (OPCA) significantly reduces necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm neonates 1. (Evidence: Strong)References
1 Anne RP, Kumar J, Kumar P, Meena J. Effect of oropharyngeal colostrum therapy on neonatal sepsis in preterm neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 2024. link