Mastitis
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Mastitis
Outline
Overview
- Bacterial infection associated with breastfeeding
Nursing Points
General
- Most commonly occurs in breastfeeding mothers
- Can occur at any time during lactation
- Most commonly occurs 2-3 weeks after delivery
Assessment
- Flu-like symptoms
- Aches
- Chills
- Febrile
- Pain, tenderness
- Localized edema, redness
Therapeutic Management
- Continue to promote lactation despite mastitis – it is safe
- Either manually express or utilize a breast pump at least q4hr
- Administer pain meds and antibiotics if indicated
- Support breasts with bra without underwire, which can irritate the already inflamed breast and potentially clog ducts
Nursing Concepts
- Infection Control
- Comfort
- Nutrition
Patient Education
- Take antibiotics as prescribed
- Continue to breastfeed
- Use warm compresses
[lesson-linker lesson=”221521,20455″ background=”white”]
Transcript
In this lesson I will explain mastitis and how you will provide care for this patient.
Ok let’s get a few basics on mastitis out of the way. So mastitis is a bacterial infection that most commonly occurs in breastfeeding mothers. It can occur anytime but most commonly a few weeks after delivery.
So what is our patient going to look like. She will have flu-like symptoms so aches,chills, febrile. There will be pain, tenderness, localized edema, and redness at the site. This is really occurring because there is a blocked milk duct that then milk gets stuck in and grows bacteria. So that is why you get a tender area and redness. It will be localized at that site. We never see our patients get mastitis because it happens after they are home but I had it with both of mine and it just comes on so suddenly. I remember feeling a little achy and so tired and couldn’t really figure out what was wrong because my throat didn’t hurt, no stuffiness or anything and then suddenly had a temperature of 102. I had the super tender red spot so all the classic symptoms. So off I went to get an antibiotic. This image here is a very severe case where an abscess has formed at the nipple. So usually you will have a reddened area on the breast where the infection is starting. If left untreated or just a severe case an abscess can form at that spot that needs to be drained. Ok let’s look at our therapeutic management.
How are we going to treat this patient? She must continue to breastfeed or pump. Breastfeeding is best because it is natural so it will empty breasts the best, but she needs to keep milk moving so whatever her choice is. It is safe to still feed, however if an abscess forms it is sometimes contraindicated by physicians. The abscess needs to be drained so they might advise the mother to not feed while it heals. She will still need to hand express milk from that side if she wishes to continue to breastfeed after it has healed. The milk might taste different to the baby from that side because of the pus that can be present. She can absolutely still continue to feed on the unaffected side like normal if she chooses.Warm compresses can help with comfort and with milk flow as well. She will be given antibiotics that she must take and finish. Pain medications as well like ibuprofen can help.with the pain and discomfort. So make sure she is educated on all of this as well.
Ok so what have we learned? Mastitis is a bacterial infection in the breast that comes on suddenly with flu like symptoms. So aches, chills, high temperature. There will be a red tender spot at the breast usually. These patient need to continue to breastfeed to help keep milk flowing and moving. One complication that can develop is an abscess so when there is an abscess breastfeeding is contraindicated but otherwise they need to keep feeding. And the patient must take antibiotics as treatment.
Make sure you check out the resources attached to this lesson and review symptoms and management. Now, go out and be your best selves today. And, as always, happy nursing.
Study Guide pre LPN-RN
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiac Disorders
- Cardiovascular
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Shock
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Lower GI Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Neurological
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Respiratory
- Hematologic Disorders
- Delegation
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Documentation and Communication
- Preoperative Nursing
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Immunological Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Medication Administration
- Vascular Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Studying
- Integumentary Disorders
- Communication
- Microbiology
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Urinary Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Circulatory System
- EENT Disorders
- Postoperative Nursing
- Neurological Emergencies
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Neurological Trauma
- Basics of NCLEX
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Integumentary Important Points
- Multisystem
- Test Taking Strategies
- Tissues and Glands
- Urinary System
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Nervous System
- Respiratory Disorders
- Respiratory System
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Health & Stress
- Skeletal System
- Endocrine System
- Hematologic System
- Digestive System
- Reproductive System
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Muscular System
- Sensory System
- Basics of Human Biology
- Adult
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Dosage Calculations
- Understanding Society
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Newborn Care
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Pregnancy Risks
- Postpartum Complications
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Learning Pharmacology
- Psychotic Disorders
- Prenatal Concepts
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Proteins
- Statistics
- Med Term Basic
- Med Term Whole
- Labor Complications
- Labor and Delivery
- Postpartum Care
- Hematologic Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Oncologic Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Psychological Emergencies
- Somatoform Disorders
- Prioritization
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Community Health Overview