Breast Abscess Drainage

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A breast abscess (AB-ses) is a pocket of pus inside your breast. You can get a breast abscess when germs enter your breast through your nipple. The germs usually get into the milk glands and ducts (tubes).
  
  
• You may get a breast abscess from breast feeding while you have cracked nipples. You may get one if you stop breast feeding your baby too quickly or after having mastitis (mas-TI-tis). Mastitis is a breast infection (in-FEK-shun). You may also get an abscess from breast problems that are not related to breast feeding. To get rid of the pus, your breast abscess may need to be opened and drained. Antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine may be needed to fight the infection. With treatment, you should be better in about three weeks.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not take any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Do not quit taking your medicine until you discuss it with your caregiver.
  
  
• Antibiotics (an-ti-bi-OT-iks): If you are taking antibiotics, always take them exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Keep taking them until the last one is gone, even if you feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, it may not work the next time you need it to treat an infection. If you think your antibiotic is not helping or you are having side effects, call your caregiver.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
  
  
  • Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
    
    
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.

How can I take care of myself after the procedure?

• Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits: For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.
  
  
• If you are breast feeding, do not nurse your baby from the breast with the abscess for about two weeks. You may continue to nurse from the other breast. In the meantime, use a breast pump to remove milk from the infected breast. Do this as often as you normally nurse your baby. Do not feed this milk to your baby.
  
  
• You may use an electric heating pad, a heat lamp, or a warm, wet towel to help relieve pain at the incision.
  
  
• You may bathe and shower as usual. If there is a drain in the incision, wait until the drain is removed before washing the incision. Then, you may wash the incision gently with water and mild, unscented soap.
  
  
• Change the dressing on the incision once a day, after bathing. Follow your caregiver's instructions on how to clean and put new dressings on your incision.
  
  
• Rest as much as possible. Then you may start your usual activities and go back to work as soon as you feel up to it.
  
  
• Avoid hard exercise and activity for three weeks.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have pain, swelling, redness, pus, or bleeding coming from the incision.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your abscess, medicine or drainage procedure.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have trouble breathing all of a sudden. This could be a sign that you have a blood clot in your lungs. It could also mean that you are allergic to a medicine you are taking.
  
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.