Our outpatient clinic has seen a Mom who delivered on 12-29-03, three times, first being with  significant nipple trauma on 3-2-04.  
She also had thrush.  She was treated topically at that point, attempted a nipple shield after a few days rest with double electric breast pumping.  
She later developed mastitis and was treated with Keflex for 10 days.  2-3 days after completing antibiotic treatment, symptoms returned, including fever 102.  
She was then prescibed Dicloxycillin for 10 days.  Continued to breastfeed some and pump some due to persistant difficulties getting baby to latch even with nipple shield.   Two days after completing antibiotic, symptoms returned (yes, not duplicate statement).  
We recommended milk culture at that point, which came back staph-MRSA.  She was prescribed Ampicillin and represcribed Diflucan, as she felt thrush symptoms were also returning.  
Upon completion of Ampicillin, she went for second milk culture and baby was cultured as well.   Mom still positive for staph (No longer MRSA?) but now with enterococcus, also.  She was told to stop feeding baby her milk at this point (April 15).  
Baby had to be removed from daycare until his positive staph is cleared.  She has had to rearrange and cut back her part-time hours at work.
I saw her on Friday when she declared she is tired of feeling ill, just wants to breastfeed her baby, or least provide her milk, and "everyone is telling me to just go ahead and wean".  She hopes that if infection can be cleared, she can at least go back to providing him pumped milk.  She is to have an ultrasound this week, and Dr. states will ask Infectious Disease specialist to see her.  Milk supply is abundant!
I offered to post to Lactnet to see if any of you can share some direction she can take.
I cannot find any contraindication to her milk for baby in my references.  
A co-worker has suggested someone may have had unclean hands after a diaper change; to ask if they have well-water; and if this occurred after she returned to work...where was she cleaning her pump equipment (ie, a bathroom?).  Also, specimen could have been contaminated somehow.
Any information we can share with this Mom to support her decision, one way or another would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Deb Zwolinski., RN, IBCLC
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Lactation Education Specialist

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