Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
10:19
A Murine Model of Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization
Published on: November 16, 2016
Risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus postpartum breast abscess.
Westyn Branch-Elliman1, Toni H Golen, Howard S Gold
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Health Care Quality, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. wbranche@bidmc.harvard.edu
Summary
New findings identify key risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus (SA) breast abscesses in postpartum women, including breastfeeding difficulties and employment outside the home. These factors are consistent for both MRSA and MSSA infections.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Postpartum breast abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) are a significant concern.
- Existing literature on risk factors for SA breast abscesses is conflicting and poorly defined.
- The differing risk factors for methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible SA (MSSA) remain unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel risk factors associated with postpartum SA breast abscesses.
- To investigate the changing epidemiology of postpartum SA breast abscesses.
- To determine if risk factors differ between MRSA and MSSA infections.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study with a nested case-control design was conducted from 2003-2010.
- Culture-confirmed SA breast abscess cases (n=54) were compared to controls (>30,000 deliveries).
- Multivariable logistic regression analyzed risk factors, including a subanalysis for MRSA vs. MSSA.
Main Results:
- In-hospital difficulty breastfeeding (OR, 5.00) and maternal employment outside the home (OR, 2.74) were significant risk factors for SA breast abscess.
- No significant differences in risk factors were observed between MRSA and MSSA infections.
- Thirty MRSA and 24 MSSA cases were identified.
Conclusions:
- Methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) is a growing pathogen in postpartum women.
- Risk factors for postpartum SA breast abscesses have remained consistent despite the emergence of community-associated MRSA.
- Difficulty breastfeeding and working mothers are key risk factors for postpartum SA breast abscesses.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...