The presence or absence of mastitis does not appear to have a significant impact on bacterial levels in breastmilk.1
Mastitis occurs on a spectrum of a variety of conditions: ductal narrowing or plugging, inflammatory mastitis, bacterial mastitis, pockets of fluid collection, abscess, galactocele, and subacute mastitis. Management of each condition addresses the general spectrum as well as each specific condition to not only treat it but also prevent reoccurrence.2
Breast infections should be dealt with promptly and may require antibiotics. It is important to keep breastfeeding/expressing while having mastitis since frequent nursing helps drain the breasts and prevents the infection from spreading.3 Babies will not be harmed by drinking breastmilk from breasts with mastitis. Please see the WHO publication for more information, including treatment options for Mastitis, and consult with a healthcare provider with any concerns.4
Donors should inform recipients if they are being treated with antibiotics. For more information on medication use while breastfeeding, please see General Information on Medication.
Please see How can breastmilk be pasteurized at home? for more information on heat-treating and pathogens.
_______________
- Linda J Kvist. 2008. The role of bacteria in lactational mastitis and some considerations of the use of antibiotic treatment
↩︎ - Katrina B. Mitchell, et al. 2022. Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #36: The Mastitis Spectrum, Revised 2022 ↩︎
- Healthy Children – Mastitis ↩︎
- WHO. 2000. Mastitis – Causes and Management ↩︎
