Yes, it can be reasonable to use a cotton swab to open up adhesions inside
a breast abscess. By definition, and abscess is walled off, so antibiotics
do not get inside well.  The contents need to be removed...and in this
case, there is an opening for the pus to escape through.  So continued
drainage should be encouraged until it is resolved.

I am not clear on the time-line here...when was the abscess drained? And
she is still on Augmentin?

You can still see pus for a while...even if things are improving.  It would
be really unusual for an abscess to be drained and NOT send some of the
contents for a culture and antibiotic sensitivities. But if a culture has
not been done, and mom feels she is not improving, and redness is extending
into the healthy breast tissue beyond the abscess site, one should
certainly be done now.

Do you have a wound clinic in your area?



Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC, FABM
Medical Director
MilkWorks-nonprofit breastfeeding support center
5930 South 58th, Suite W, Lincoln, NE 68516
(402) 423-6402, FAX 423-6422,* **www.milkworks.org*<http://www.milkworks.org/>

*Creating a healthier community by helping mothers breastfeed their
babies....*
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