This is Dr. Scott-Conner's reply to my query about nursing with a breast
abscess.  Anyone care to comment either directly to her, or to her and
LactNet?


>Return-Path: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Mon, 4 Mar 96 18:27:56 -0600
>X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
>X-PH: V4.1@mail
>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: "Dr. Carol Scott-Conner" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Nursing with breast abscess
>Cc: [log in to unmask]
>
>Dear Dr Dettwyler
>
>I have reviewed the original papers which formed the basis of that section
>of my paper (a copy is on its way to you) and the brief segment on our web
>page.  Here is my synthesis of what I have read so far:
>
>Most sources agree that nursing can and should be continued for the woman
>with mastitis and that there is no danger to the infant.  The issue is
>whether or not it is safe to continue to do so once abscess formation has
>occurred.  An abscess is a localized collection of pus within the substance
>of the breast and is associated with higher bacterial counts in the milk.
>        The sources I have reviewed are divided on the safety of continuing
>to nurse when the infectious process has progressed to frank abscess
>formation.  There is general agreement that the source of infection is
>frequently the infant.  There are scattered reports associating severe and
>even fatal septic complications in infants who nursed from breasts afflicted
>with breast abscesses.  An excellent review of the issues involved is given
>in a paper by Katzman & Wald, in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
>Vol 6, No 3, 1987, pp 295-296.  Anecdotal case reports are given in two
>letters to the editor in the journal Pediatrics, Volume 91, number 1, 1977,
>pp 158-159.  In contrast, it is difficult if not impossible to know how many
>times women have successfully continued to nurse without ill effect to the
>infant.  In view of all this it is difficult for me to feel comfortable
>advocating nursing from the breast affected by a breast abscess.
>
>Best wishes.  Carol Scott-Conner MD PhD
>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352