From the Research
Hospitalization is necessary for patients with severe mastitis, particularly those with systemic symptoms, abscess formation, immunocompromised status, or failure of outpatient treatment, as indicated by the most recent study 1. The criteria for keeping a patient in the hospital for mastitis include:
- Severe symptoms, such as high fever or severe pain
- Abscess formation, which may require ultrasound-guided drainage
- Immunocompromised status, which increases the risk of complications
- Failure of outpatient treatment, which may indicate the need for more aggressive therapy According to the study 1, most patients with mastitis can be treated as outpatients with oral antibiotics, but hospital admission may be required if the condition worsens or there is a concern for sepsis. The treatment guidelines for mastitis, including indications for hospitalization and antibiotic therapy, are based on the severity of symptoms and the presence of underlying conditions, as outlined in the study 1. Key considerations in the treatment of mastitis include:
- Continued breastfeeding or milk expression to help clear the infection
- Pain management with analgesics, such as ibuprofen
- Antibiotic therapy, which may include narrow-spectrum antibiotics to cover common skin flora, such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus
- Ultrasound-guided drainage for abscesses, as indicated by the study 2 The most recent study 1 provides the strongest evidence for the treatment of mastitis, and its recommendations should be followed in clinical practice.