CA-MRSA puerperal mastitis and breast abscess: a potential problem emerging in Europe with many unanswered questions

Abstract

Puerperal mastitis and breast abscess caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a condition rarely described in Europe to date. We report and comment on a case of CA-MRSA puerperal breast abscess in a 22-year-old primiparous mother. This aetiology was suspected before the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the strain isolated from the abscess was known on account of a history of previous skin colonisation detected in her baby. Additionally, the most striking epidemiological and therapeutic aspects, potential consequences of cross-infection between mother and child, and infection control management of this entity are briefly reviewed and discussed.

• Breastfeeding
• colonisation
• Panton–Valentine leukocidin
• puerperal infections
• Staphylococcus aureus