DRAMIŃSKI - Mastitis prevention

1. DRAMIŃSKI 4QMast - a mastitis detector for 4 quarters
2. DRAMIŃSKI Mastitis Detector

• Abscess: Symptoms consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue.
• Milk ducts: Enclosed passage or channel carrying milk.
• Septicemia: Infection of the bloodstream by microorganisms.
• Edematous: swollen with an excessive accumulation of fluid.
• Immune reaction: A bodily defense reaction that recognizes an invading substance (an antigen: such as a virus or fungus or bacteria) and produces antibodies specifically against that antigen

1. Treatment is given to facilitate recovery and to prevent complications.
2. Breast feeding should not be stopped, feeding helps in proper drainage of the breast and continuing to breast feed does not cause any risk to the nursing infant.
3. Treatment involves bed rest, increased fluid intake, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics.
4. Treatment for Blocked duct
5. Blocked duct can be treated by removing milk stasis and avoiding obstruction to milk flow.
6. White spots that appear at the end of the nipple can be removed with sterile needle or cloth

Mastitis can be prevented by proper breast feeding methods to avoid development of milk stasis and providing early treatment if signs of mastitis appear.

Infant should be well attached to the breast during breast feeding and should be fed with no restrictions in the amount and frequency of feeding.

During difficulty in suckling of milk by the infant due to swollen breast, the mother can express her milk by softening the breasts and relieve the discomfort and help the infant to suckle easily.

• a) Breast engorgement/Swollen breast
• b) Blocked duct
• c) Non-infectious mastitis
• d) Infectious mastitis
• e) Breast abscess
• a) Breast engorgement/Swollen breast:

• In swollen breast, the breast is overfilled with milk leading to block in milk flow leading to increase in pressure inside the milk ducts due to which the breasts appear edematous (swollen) leading to engorgement of the entire breast.
• Fever appears and subsidies in 24 hours.

• Women aged 21-35 are more likely to develop mastitis
• Complications during delivery may increase mastitis occurrence
• Poor nutrition, high salt and fat intake, anemia may increase incidence of mastitis
• Maternal stress and fatigue may cause mastitis
• Injury in the breasts from any cause can damage gland tissue and ducts and this could lead to mastitis
• Antioxidants, Vitamin E, A and selenium intake reduces mastitis occurrence

The two main causes for lactation mastitis is

• Milk stasis
• Microbial Infection

Milk Stasis (Stagnation of Milk):

1. Milk stasis is the primary cause for development of lactation mastitis, which may or may not be accompanied with infection.
2. Milk stasis results from stagnation of milk within the breast due to inefficient removal of milk.
3. Infection may also occur in Milk stasis as the stagnant milk may provide a good nutrient supply for the growth of bacteria.
4. Lactation mastitis may occur when the breasts are filled with milk soon after delivery and milk is not removed by the infant from the breast, which may be due to:
5. Poor attachment of the
   infant to the breast
6. Ineffective suckling
7. Restriction of frequency or
   duration of feeds
8. Blockage in milk ducts
9. Increased milk supply

Microbial Infection:

Common microorganisms found in mastitis

1. Staphylococcus aureus
2. Staphylococcus albus
3. Streptococcus species
4. Escherichia coli

Lactation Mastitis is an acute inflammation or swelling of the mammary gland that may or may not be accompanied by infection.

The inflammatory condition of the breast may range from localized inflammation with minimum symptoms to collection of pus (abscess) and septicemia (bacteria in blood).

If lactation mastitis is inadequately treated it may lead to severe complications.

Severe complication of mastitis is the formation of breast abscess, which consist of localized collection of pus within the breast.