Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Mastitis causes
Introduction
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
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Streptococcus
- E. coli
- Mycoplasma.
- Fungi, most commonly Candida, that may be found in the oral cavity of the baby.
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:
- Autoimmune reaction to luminal fluid
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
- Autoimmune reaction to luminal fluid
- E. coli
- Fungi, most commonly Candida
- ●Infrequent breastfeeding
- ●Maternal stress
- ●Maternal malnutrition
- Mycoplasma
- ●Nipple excoriation or cracking
- ●Oveproduction of milk
- ●Rapid weaning
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Streptococcus
- ●Tight-fitting brassiere or car seatbelt
References
References
- ↑ 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.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]