K Ghazisaidi - Professor, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Gorgan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Gorgan, Iran
F Fateminasab - Assistant Professor of Immunology Department, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sh Vatani - Master of Science in Microbiology, Pathobiology Department, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
M Mohamadi - Master of Science in Microbiology, Pathobiology Department, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
E Ghaemi - Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Gorgan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Gorgan, Iran

Introduction: Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast and since it is usually associated with lactation , it is usually called lactational mastitis. Two major causes of mastitis are milk stasis and infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial mastitis in lactating women and to determine the sensitivity pattern of the involved bacteria. Method: A total of ۲۰۳ milk samples were taken from puerperal women with clinical symptoms of mastitis attending Mirzakochackkhan Hospital during ۲۰۰۳-۲۰۰۴. Samples were examined by microscopic and cultural methods. After identification of bacteria by biochemical methods, disk diffusion method was used for determination of sensitivity pattern of bacteria. Results: From ۲۰۳ samples, ۵۶ samples (۲۷.۶%) were culture positive and ۱۴۷ samples (۷۲ .۴%) were negative. Among ۵۶ positive samples, ۵۱ ones (۹۱.۱%) were positive for coagulase negative Staphylococcus and ۵ samples were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Among ۵۱ positive samples for coagulase negative Staphylococcus, ۲۱ samples had more than ۳ ۱۰ bacteria per milliliter. Isolated Staphylococcus aureus from ۵ samples and isolated coagulase negative Staphylococcus from ۲۱ samples were sensitive to flucxacilin, dicloxacilin, and cloxacilin. Conclusion: The results of this study show the role of Staphylococcus aureus. and coagulase negative Staphylococcus in infective mastitis.

mastitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus