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Mastitis causes

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

Overview

Overview

Mastitis is mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus.[1] Other causes include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, E. coli, Mycoplasma and Candida.

Causes

Causes

Life-threatening cause

There is no life-threatening cause of mastitis.

Most common cause

The most common cause of mastitis is Staphylococcus aureus[1] normally found on the skin.

Common causes

Common causes include:

Pathogenic

Non-pathogenic

  • ●Tight-fitting brassiere or car seatbelt
  • ●Oveproduction of milk
  • ●Infrequent breastfeeding
  • ●Maternal stress
  • ●Maternal malnutrition
  • ●Nipple excoriation or cracking
  • ●Rapid weaning

Less common causes

Less common causes include:


Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular No underlying causes
Chemical/Poisoning Chloramines in pool water, smoking illicit drugs
Dental No underlying causes
Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect No underlying causes
Ear Nose Throat Vallecular cyst
Endocrine Oveproduction of milk, Rapid weaning
Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic No underlying causes
Genetic No underlying causes|-
Hematologic No underlying causes
Iatrogenic No underlying causes
Infectious Disease Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, E. coli, Fungi, most commonly Candida, Mycoplasma
Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic No underlying causes
Neurologic No underlying causes
Nutritional/Metabolic No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic No underlying causes
Oncologic No underlying causes
Ophthalmologic No underlying causes
Overdose/Toxicity No underlying causes
Psychiatric No underlying causes
Pulmonary No underlying causes
Renal/Electrolyte No underlying causes
Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy Autoimmune reaction to luminal fluid
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma Nipple excoriation or cracking
Urologic No underlying causes
Miscellaneous Infrequent breastfeeding, Maternal stress, Tight-fitting brassiere or car seatbelt


Causes in Alphabetical Order

References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Montague EC, Hilinski J, Andresen D, Cooley A (2013). “Evaluation and treatment of mastitis in infants”. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 32 (11): 1295–6. doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3182a06448. PMID 24145956.

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