Evidence map›Paper›PMID 23450563›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2013

Antibiotics for mastitis in breastfeeding women.

Shayesteh Jahanfar, Chirk Jenn Ng, Cheong Lieng Teng

Open access · greenAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
31citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
6.5field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

31 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 175 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020
    Pooled it
  2. Treatments for breast abscesses in breastfeeding women.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015
    Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Management of Mastitis in the Hospital Setting: An International Audit Study.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Mucosal Immunity and Liver Metabolism in the Complex Condition of Lactation Insufficiency.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2020
    Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. The microbiology and treatment of human mastitis.Medical microbiology and immunology · 2018
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Shayesteh JahanfarSchool of Population and PublicHealth,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. jahanfar2000@yahoo.com
Chirk Jenn Ng
Cheong Lieng Teng
International Medical University · MYUniversity of British Columbia · CAUniversity of Malaya · MY

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMastitis can be caused by ineffective positioning of the baby at the breast or restricted feeding. Infective mastitis is commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The prevalence of mastitis in breastfeeding women may reach 33%. Effective milk removal, pain medication and antibiotic therapy have been the mainstays of treatment.

objectivesThis review aims to examine the effectiveness of antibiotic therapies in relieving symptoms for breastfeeding women with mastitis with or without laboratory investigation. SEARCH

methodsWe searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 September 2012), contacted investigators and other content experts known to us for unpublished trials and scanned the reference lists of retrieved articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: We selected randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing the effectiveness of various types of antibiotic therapies or antibiotic therapy versus alternative therapies for the treatment of mastitis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. When in dispute, we consulted a third author. MAIN

resultsTwo trials met the inclusion criteria. One small trial (n = 25) compared amoxicillin with cephradine and found no significant difference between the two antibiotics in terms of symptom relief and abscess formation. Another, older study compared breast emptying alone as 'supportive therapy' versus antibiotic therapy plus supportive therapy, and no therapy. The findings of the latter study suggested faster clearance of symptoms for women using antibiotics, although the study design was problematic. AUTHORS'

conclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to confirm or refute the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy for the treatment of lactational mastitis. There is an urgent need to conduct high-quality, double-blinded RCTs to determine whether antibiotics should be used in this common postpartum condition.

Indexed as

Breast Milk ExpressionAmoxicillinAnti-Bacterial AgentsBreast FeedingCephradineFemaleHumansMastitisRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAmoxicillinAnti-Bacterial AgentsCephradine

Identifiers

PMID23450563
PMCPMC11297410
OpenAlexW2917487465

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.