A 28-year-old woman who is currently breastfeeding presents to the clinic with a painful, swollen area in her right breast. She has a fever and describes the area as being red and tender. On examination, the clinician suspects a breast abscess.
Which one of the following statements correlates with the occurrence of a breast abscess?
A. Uncommon in lactating women
B. Presents as an occasional pain in the breast
C. Incision and drainage is the treatment of choice
D. Cannot lead to antibioma
Answer:
The Correct Answer is: C. Incision and drainage is treatment of choice
Explanation:
Incision and drainage is the treatment of choice (C):
– A breast abscess, which is a localized collection of pus within the breast tissue, often requires incision and drainage to effectively treat the infection and relieve symptoms.
– Antibiotics alone are usually insufficient to resolve a breast abscess because they cannot penetrate the abscess cavity effectively. Therefore, surgical drainage is necessary to remove the pus.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
Uncommon in lactating women (A):
– Breast abscesses are actually more common in lactating women, particularly those who develop mastitis that does not respond to antibiotics. Stagnant milk can provide a medium for bacterial growth, leading to abscess formation.
Presents as an occasional pain in the breast (B):
– While breast abscesses can cause severe pain, they typically present with more significant symptoms such as localized swelling, redness, tenderness, fever, and sometimes fluctuation (a feeling of fluid movement).
Cannot lead to antibioma (D):
– An antibioma is an abscess that persists after incomplete antibiotic treatment, resulting in a collection of pus surrounded by fibrous tissue. This can occur if a breast abscess is not adequately drained and antibiotics alone are used, leading to a chronic abscess that is difficult to treat with antibiotics alone.
In conclusion, the statement that correlates with the occurrence of a breast abscess is that incision and drainage is the treatment of choice, making option C the correct answer.