Has this entire family been cultured, throat, nasopharyngeal and vaginally? 

I've seen a number cases where very resistant mastitis (two of which resulted 
in abscess, mostly due to improper treatment protocol from MD) where it was 
actually a case of Reinfection, from an other member of the family, in two 
cases mom was carrying bacteria in her nasopharyngeal area, several where 
Dad was carrying symptomless Strep or baby had seemingly symptomless 
Staph in her throat,  and in one case we had the entire family cultured (I 
mean the ENTIRE family) and the dog was growing out Staph in his throat! In 
many cases where this happens, in which case proper treatment needs to be 
rendered to everyone who grows out bacteria. The biggest hurtle is often to 
get the MD to do the cultures. 

Had one dad on antibx nasal drops for weeks, the other where the dog had to 
be treated (in this case, not only did mom's "resistant" mastitis clear up, but 
the family then canceled the 11 yr olds tonsillectomy, as she stopped getting 
tonsillitis!) 

It *could* be a case of repeated re-infection, rather than resistance, with a 
family member as a "silent carrier." It's worth a look. 

I haven't personally seen a case of abscess in several years, now, as more 
docs seem to know how to treat mastitis, but abscess or recurrent or 
resistant mastitis can often be cleared up by culturing the entire family, baby 
included. (And, yes, even pets, if we find nothing in the family.) Also, throat 
and vaginal cultures are much easier to culture for sensitivity to the proper 
antibx than even abscess culture. (Has the doctor done even a culture on the 
abscess pus, and run a complete Sensitivity Study, to make sure the proper 
antibx is given and for the proper amount of time? It can often take a month 
or more of daily antibx with the right meds, for a mom with abscess.) 

I hope you see a good outcome on this one. It sounds terribly painful for mom, 
and frustrating for you. 


Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLLL
Private Practice 

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