Breast infection

Abstract

Breast infections can affect the parenchyma of the breast or the skin overlying the breast. Parenchymal breast infections are divided into three groups-infections associated with breast feeding, central or subareolar abscesses with or without mammary duct fistulae, and peripheral breast parenchymal infections. Infections in the skin of the breast are usually secondary to an underlying lesion such as a sebaceous cyst or hidradenitis suppurativa. Management of breast infections has changed dramatically over the last two decades. © 2011 Springer Science + Business Media.