BS13 THE EFFECT OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY BREAST DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISOLATION OF LIPOPHILIC CORYNEBACTERIA

Abstract

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare benign condition effecting women of reproductive age and is most commonly treated surgically. It is an inflammatory disease of the breast associated with the isolation of intracellular lipophilic corynebacteria and has a course of chronicity with recurrences.Purpose Our aim was to observe the clinical response and subsequent course of women diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis and treated by a long course of lipophilic antibiotics. We also recorded the concurrent requirement for surgical intervention.Methodology The clinical course of seventeen women with inflammatory breast disease and microbiologic and histologic evidence of infection with Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii were prospectively followed. 11 received treatment with doxycycline (or clindamycin if breast feeding), 5 women received alternative antibiotics, and one patient received no antibiotics.Results Among the 11 who received doxycycline, full resolution without surgery of disease was achieved in 9 women while another woman showed improvement at follow up, further surgical management was required by 2. All the five women who received alternative antibiotics also had surgery. They each had full resolution of disease at follow up. Further admissions were required by one woman.Conclusion Optimal treatment for granulomatous mastitis is yet to be determined. We found promising results with a small group of young women who were treated with the lipophilic antibiotic doxycycline alone. These had resolution of disease without requiring surgical intervention.