Mastitis natural history, complications, and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: ; Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]

Overview

If left untreated, up to 11% of patients with puerperal mastitis may progress to develop a breast abscess. Complications that may arise from mastitis include: recurrence, milk stasis and abscess formation. The prognosis is usually good and mastitis clears quickly with antibiotic therapy. 73% of smokers diagnosed with mastitis have the worst prognosis, especially those with non-puerperal mastitis, and have a higher rate of recurrence of breast abscesses.

Natural history, complications, and prognosis

Natural history

If left untreated, up to 11% of patients with puerperal mastitis may progress to develop a breast abscess.

Complications

Complications that may arise from mastitis include:

• Recurrence
• Milk stasis
• Abscess

Abscess is the most severe complication that women can get from this condition. Also, women who have had mastitis once are likely to develop it again with a future child or with the same infant. Recurrence appears especially in cases of delayed or inadequate treatment. Delayed or inadequate treatment, especially in mastitis related to milk stasis, may lead to the formation of an abscess within the breast tissue. An abscess is a collection of pus that develops into the breast which ultimately requires surgical drainage.

Prognosis

The prognosis is usually good and mastitis clears quickly with antibiotic therapy. 73% of smokers diagnosed with mastitis have the worst prognosis, especially those with non-puerperal mastitis, and have a higher rate of recurrence of breast abscesses.