Incidence and risk factors associated with human mastitis

Abstract

Human mastitis is an infection that affects the mammary glands of females and mainly occurs during the puerperium, a common condition brought on by improper breastfeeding technique. Mastitis is differentiated into lactational and non-lactational types according to its symptoms. Based on the available data, the pooled incidence of mastitis across countries like the USA, UK, Australia, Denmark, Turkey, Finland and New Zealand is estimated to be 13.45%. Poor hygiene, sore and cracked nipples, nipple piercing, smoking and fitted innerwear are reported risk factors. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are predominant pathogens, with a prevalence range between 50 to 87%, respectively. Mastitis management is essential to reduce infection rates and discover alternate treatments. Studies indicate that antibiotic treatment may be substituted for herbal and probiotic therapies. In addition, if mastitis is not adequately diagnosed in females, there is a high risk of breast cancer. Mastitis is a significant health issue, but it is often overlooked in the field of human medicine. In this review, we have focused on the risk factors, the alternative therapeutic approaches, and the relationship of breast cancer associated with mastitis.