Mastitis and Mammary Abscess Management Audit (MAMMA) in the UK and Ireland
MAMMA describes the current practice in management of mastitis and breast abscess in UK and Ireland, with a specific focus on the rate of surgical intervention. From 69 participating hospitals, 1312 patient’s data were analysed (Aug 2020 to Aug 2021). Primary outcome measures included patient management pathway characteristics and treatment types (medical/radiological/surgical). MAMMA identified a high overall rate (21%) of breast abscess incision and drainage, and lower than anticipated rate of ultrasound-guided breast abscess aspiration (61%). Between individual units, significant variations were observed in the rate of incision and drainage (range 0–100%; P < 0.001) and needle aspiration (range 12.5–100%; P < 0.001). Overall requirement for inpatient treatment was 22.5%, with 72.9% of these patients requiring IV antibiotics. The odds of undergoing breast abscess incision and drainage or requiring inpatient treatments were significantly higher if patients presented at the weekend vs. weekday (P<0.023). Breast specialists reviewed 40.9% of all patients directly, despite the majority of study cohort (74.2%) presenting within weekday working hours.
British Journal of Surgery
Classifications: Benign & Atypical Breast Disease
