Infectious disease pop quiz: Clinical challenge #20 for the ObGyn
Concise Q&As to hone your skills in infectious disease symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment in pregnant and nonpregnant women
In this question-and-answer series, our objective is to reinforce for the clinician several practical points of management for common infectious diseases. The principal references for the answers to the questions are 2 textbook chapters written by Dr. Duff.1,2 Other pertinent references are included in the text.
Staphylococci and Streptococcus viridans are the 2 dominant microorganisms that cause puerperal mastitis. For the initial treatment of mastitis, the drug of choice is dicloxacillin sodium (500 mg orally every 6 to 8 hours for 7 to 10 days). If the patient has a mild allergy to penicillin, cephalexin (500 mg orally every 6 to 8 hours for 7 to 10 days) is an appropriate alternative. If the allergy to penicillin is severe or if methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is suspected, either clindamycin (300 mg orally twice daily for 7 to 10 days) or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole double strength orally twice daily for 7 to 10 days should be used.
