Mastitis Newborns

Neonatal mastitis is an infectious disease of the mammary glands of newborns and infants, which is characterized by inflammatory changes in the parenchyma and/or capsule of the mammary gland with the development of necrotic processes.

Etiology. Neonatal mastitis can develop acutely in the first hours of a child's life or subacutely 6-12 hours or more after birth. More often, the disease occurs due to improper care of the newborn by both medical personnel and parents. A necessary condition for the development of the disease is unprotected access of the infection to the mammary glands of a newborn baby, which can occur with breast swelling, disruption of the integrity of the gland ducts due to impaired milk outflow, the presence of cracked nipples, and poor hygiene of washing and changing products. Microorganisms penetrate the mammary glands through microtraumas, forming mycelial hyphae and settling along the ducts to form abscesses.

Pathogenesis. The initial point of inflammation in the mammary glands of a newborn is Staphylococcus aureus, less often - other microorganisms. Conditions for the growth of pathological flora are created when the milk duct is damaged - abrasions, cracks, which facilitate the spread of infection from the skin, and can also serve as a hotbed