BREAST ABSCESS

Course overview

BREAST ABSCESSES ARE A COMMON PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN LACTATING WOMEN. MOST BREAST ABSCESSES ARE BENIGN. HOWEVER, WHEN A NON-LACTATING PATIENT PRESENTS WITH A BREAST ABSCESS, A MORE NEFARIOUS ETIOLOGY SUCH AS AN INFLAMMATORY CARCINOMA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. NON-LACTATING PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH BREAST ABSCESS SHOULD ALSO BE SCREENED FOR NEW-ONSET DIABETES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE BREAST ABSCESS EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT IN BOTH LACTATING AND NON-LACTATING INDIVIDUALS AND EMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.