What is the protocol for mastitis? How do we determine that a mother has
mastitis?
Sounds simple, but I have heard mastitis described in so many ways.  Often I
have wondered are we all talking about the same thing?  How do we know if it
is viral or bacteria?  If it is viral, why would we suggest an antibiotic?
Antibiotics don't touch viruses.  How many women have mastitis and recover
without antibiotics?  Why?

How can you do cultures in a timely manner in order to determine what you are
dealing with?  By the time, you find out what it is, the situation may have
resolved on its own.  Considering the problem of antibiotic resistance and
the liklihood of creating candida thru antibiotic introduction, might we
consider that antibiotics might not be the first choice during bouts of
mastitis?

Alot of what seems to be known about mastitis is taken from dairy science.
How relevant is that to humans?  Do you know that they are now treating
mastitis in cows with lactoferrin?  Giving them a dose of their own medicine.
 (not really there own medicine...genetically engineered) Why?  Lactoferrin
is considered a new broad spectrum antibiotic.  Rather interesting but makes
sense when you know the properties of milk--bovine and human.  Antibiotic
resistance is a problem in the dairy industry created by overtreatment with
antibiotics.  We should probably be concerned about this, too.

I would be interested in LC protocols on mastitis and the studies that they
use to back up their course of action. Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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