Acute mastitis commonly occurs during-

• Involvement of the interlobular connective tissue of the breast by an infectious process. • The patient develops nipple fissuring and milk stasis, which initiate a retrograde bacterial infection. • Emptying of the breast using breast suction pumps shortens the duration of symptoms and reduces the incidence of recurrences. • The addition of antibiotic therapy results in a satisfactory outcome in >95% of cases.