Breast: infection: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Surgery · Breast: infection

Sample item

A breastfeeding woman has a painful, red, fluctuant 4 cm lump in the breast with fever, 3 weeks after delivery. What is the best management?

AStop breastfeeding at once and give analgesia onlyBObservation without antibioticsCUltrasound-guided aspiration or drainage with antibiotics, and continued breastfeedingDMastectomy

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Ultrasound-guided aspiration or drainage with antibiotics, and continued breastfeeding

A lactational breast abscess is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Management is antibiotics with repeated needle aspiration or, if large, small-incision drainage, under ultrasound guidance where possible. Breastfeeding or expressing from the affected breast should continue, since it helps drainage and the milk is safe for the infant.

Option by option

A. Stop breastfeeding at once and give analgesia only
Stopping breastfeeding encourages engorgement and does not treat the abscess.
B. Observation without antibiotics
A fluctuant collection needs drainage and antibiotics.
C. Ultrasound-guided aspiration or drainage with antibiotics, and continued breastfeeding (correct)
Correct. Drainage with antibiotics and continued emptying of the breast is the recommended approach.
D. Mastectomy
Mastectomy is never indicated for a lactational abscess.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is C, Ultrasound-guided aspiration or drainage with antibiotics, and continued breastfeeding. A lactational breast abscess is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Why is "Stop breastfeeding at once and give analgesia only" not the answer?

Stopping breastfeeding encourages engorgement and does not treat the abscess.

Why is "Observation without antibiotics" not the answer?

A fluctuant collection needs drainage and antibiotics.

Why is "Mastectomy" not the answer?

Mastectomy is never indicated for a lactational abscess.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Breast: infection in General Surgery. Management is antibiotics with repeated needle aspiration or, if large, small-incision drainage, under ultrasound guidance where possible. Breastfeeding or expressing from the affected breast should continue, since it helps drainage and the milk is safe for the infant.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Breast: infection?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.