Maintaining Breastfeeding During the Treatment of Breast Abscesses Is Not Contraindicated.

Background: World Health Organization guidelines recommend maintaining breastfeeding if a woman develops breast abscess, because of benefits to her recovery and the infant's health. However, clinical staff recommend weaning to promote faster recovery from the abscess. The purpose of this study was to determine whether maintaining breastfeeding after development of a breast abscess has any influence on the resolution of the breast abscess. Methods: The records of 212 patients who were breastfeeding and developed breast abscess treated at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who maintained breastfeeding (study group) and those who stopped breastfeeding (control group). Results: There were 139 patients in study group and 73 patients in the control group. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The time to cure in the study group and in the control group was 7.20 ± 2.21 days and 7.01 ± 2.39 days, respectively (t = 0.579, p = 0.563). Common complications were milk fistula and galactocele, and the frequency of both was similar between the two groups (milk fistula: 7.9% versus 8.2%, respectively; χ2 = 0.006, p = 0.938; galactocele: 8.6% versus 9.6%, respectively; χ2 = 0.054, p = 0.817). There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates between the two groups (5.0% versus 2.7%; χ2 = 0.184, p = 0.668). Conclusion: Maintaining breastfeeding during treatment of breast abscess does not affect the outcome of treatment provided, on condition that the abscess is treated appropriately.

A Five-step Systematic Therapy for Treating Plugged Ducts and Mastitis in Breastfeeding Women: A Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the clinical response to five-step systematic therapy (FSST) in the management of plugged ducts and mastitis. FSST was a comprehensive milk stasis dredging treatment, which contained five steps to make the milk out of the plugged duct. METHODS: This retrospective study included 922 breastfeeding women, 714 with plugged ducts, and 208 with mastitis who received FSST from June to September 2017. The breast pain score, swelling degree, and range of breast induration were recorded pre-FSST and post-FSST. RESULTS: After a single FSST, pain score and swelling degree were significantly improved (both p < .001) in all cases. After FSST, the mean breast pain relief score was 1.69 ± 0.70, whereas the mean swelling fade away degree was 1.61 ± 0.62. In the subgroup analysis, pain score and swelling degree were significantly improved (both p < .001) in the plugged ducts group and the mastitis group. The score of pain relief in the plugged ducts group was less than that in the mastitis group (1.63 ± 0.68 vs. 1.91 ± 0.70, t = 5.30; p < .001), whereas improvement of swelling fade away was greater in the plugged ducts group than the mastitis group (1.65 ± 0.64 vs. 1.48 ± 0.56, t = 3.49; p = .001). The composition ratio of changes in induration range between the two groups was statistically different (Pearson χ2 = 137.87, p < .001), of which more obvious improvement in the plugged ducts group than the mastitis group (χ2 = 25.65, p < .001). CONCLUSION: FSST can relieve pain, reduce breast swelling and range of induration, and for plugged ducts or mastitis varied degree differently.