OBJECTIVE: To correlate clinical symptoms and signs of sore nipples with the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and to determine the probability of mothers having S aureus-infected nipples when these local symptoms and signs are found. DESIGN: Two cohorts of consecutive patients were enrolled regardless of presenting complaint. A questionnaire was administered to determine the presence and severity of sore nipples. Objective findings on breast examination were documented. A nipple swab was taken for culture and sensitivity. SETTING: Breastfeeding clinic serving patients referred by family physicians, pediatricians, and community health nurses. PATIENTS: A sample of 227 breastfeeding mothers was collected in two cohorts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Answers to questions about sore nipples, objective findings from physical examination, and results from nipple swabs. RESULTS: Most subjects (51%) had sore nipples, and 45% of subjects had objective findings on examination; 23% of subjects had a positive nipple swab culture; 15% grew S aureus on culture. The risk of having S aureus colonization was 4.8 times greater if nipple pain was moderate or severe rather than mild. A break in nipple integument associated with cracks, fissures, ulcers, or pus gave a 35% chance of having S aureus colonization, five times greater than when the integument was intact. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that mothers with infants younger than 1 month who complained of moderate to severe nipple pain and who had cracks, fissures, ulcers, or exudates had a 64% chance of having positive skin cultures and a 54% chance of having S aureus colonization.
OBJECTIVE: To correlate clinical symptoms and signs of sore nipples with the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and to determine the probability of mothers having S aureus-infected nipples when these local symptoms and signs are found. DESIGN: Two cohorts of consecutive patients were enrolled regardless of presenting complaint. A questionnaire was administered to determine the presence and severity of sore nipples. Objective findings on breast examination were documented. A nipple swab was taken for culture and sensitivity. SETTING: Breastfeeding clinic serving patients referred by family physicians, pediatricians, and community health nurses. PATIENTS: A sample of 227 breastfeeding mothers was collected in two cohorts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Answers to questions about sore nipples, objective findings from physical examination, and results from nipple swabs. RESULTS: Most subjects (51%) had sore nipples, and 45% of subjects had objective findings on examination; 23% of subjects had a positive nipple swab culture; 15% grew S aureus on culture. The risk of having S aureus colonization was 4.8 times greater if nipple pain was moderate or severe rather than mild. A break in nipple integument associated with cracks, fissures, ulcers, or pus gave a 35% chance of having S aureus colonization, five times greater than when the integument was intact. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that mothers with infants younger than 1 month who complained of moderate to severe nipple pain and who had cracks, fissures, ulcers, or exudates had a 64% chance of having positive skin cultures and a 54% chance of having S aureus colonization.
Authors: W Mutschlechner; D Karall; C Hartmann; B Streiter; S Baumgartner-Sigl; D Orth-Höller; C Lass-Flörl Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2016-05-13 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Jacqueline C Kent; Elizabeth Ashton; Catherine M Hardwick; Marnie K Rowan; Elisa S Chia; Kyle A Fairclough; Lalitha L Menon; Courtney Scott; Georgia Mather-McCaw; Katherine Navarro; Donna T Geddes Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-09-29 Impact factor: 3.390