Breast Abscess During the Neonatal Period

Thirty-nine infants ranging in age from 1 to 7 weeks had breast abscess. The lesion occurred more frequently in girls (girl/boy ratio, 1.8:1), but this was due to cases developing after 2 weeks of age. During the first two weeks, the sex incidence was equal. No bilateral lesions were recorded. Eighty-four percent of the abscesses developed during the first three weeks of life. In general, there was a lack of systemic manifestations; a body temperature of 38.3 C (101 F) or more was found in only 25.7% of the patients and constitutional signs were found in four patients. Abscess cultures were obtained in 36 cases: 32 yielded Staphylococcus aureus, two Salmonella, one Escherichia coli, and one yielded both S aureus and E coli. Of six patients available for follow-up, decreased breast tissue was noted in two.