Quick Facts
Breast Infection and Breast Abscess
(Mastitis)
Topic Resources
What are breast infections and breast abscesses?
What are the symptoms of a breast infection?
What causes breast infections?
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Breast infections are rare but happen more often around childbirth, after an injury, or after surgery
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You’re more likely to get a breast infection if you have diabetes or if you take corticosteroids (medicine to lower swelling and pain)
How do doctors treat a breast infection or breast abscess?
Doctors have you take antibiotics to treat the infection.
Doctors usually drain an abscess. To do this, doctors will:
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Do an ultrasound (a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the insides of your body) to see where to place the needle
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Drain the abscess with a needle
