Improving treatment for painful breast infections in breastfeeding individuals
Official title: Improving treatment of lactation mastitis: leveraging claims data to fill evidence gaps
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-10952650 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well different antibiotics work for treating lactation mastitis, a painful condition that many breastfeeding people experience, and it also wants to see if there are differences in treatment based on race and ethnicity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $158,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD116000-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10952650 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breastfeeding individuals diagnosed with lactation mastitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not breastfeeding or who do not have a diagnosis of lactation mastitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates lactation mastitis, a painful condition affecting many breastfeeding individuals, by analyzing healthcare claims data to compare the effectiveness of different antibiotic treatments. The study aims to identify which antibiotics are most effective in preventing treatment failure and to document any disparities in treatment based on race and ethnicity. By constructing a large cohort of over 5,000 diagnosed cases, the research team will conduct detailed analyses to understand the impact of antibiotic choice on outcomes like abscess formation and hospital admissions. This approach combines expertise from infectious disease epidemiology and lactation care to fill critical gaps in current treatment guidelines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment protocols for lactation mastitis, reducing pain and complications for breastfeeding individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that analyzing claims data can effectively identify treatment disparities and improve clinical outcomes, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ludema, Christina Marie — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Ludema, Christina Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Iodized salt and early brain development in babies of pregnant and breastfeeding women in rural Ethiopia
This grant tests whether giving iodized salt to pregnant and breastfeeding women helps their babies’ brain development.
-
IMPILO: New 6-month RR-TB regimen in pregnant and breastfeeding women
A study in pregnant and postpartum women with rifampicin-resistant TB will track how well a new all-oral 6-month treatment works and how well people stick to it.
-
Moringa in Breastfeeding: A mom-and-baby study
This trial tests whether adding moringa leaf powder to mothers’ diets can increase breast milk volume and improve infant growth among undernourished families in Kenya.
-
Balanced Energy Protein Supplement for mothers and infants in LMICs
A nutrition program tests if a ready-to-use protein supplement given to undernourished pregnant or breastfeeding women in South Asia can improve baby growth in the first 6 months.
-
UPLIFT: Understanding how HIV status shapes parental feeding choices
A patient-centered study explores how people with HIV make feeding decisions for their babies and what supports help them choose and carry out feeding plans.
-
Effects of iodized salt during pregnancy and breastfeeding on infant brain development in rural Ethiopia
Pregnant and breastfeeding people in rural Ethiopia will receive iodized salt to see how it affects their baby’s brain development.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.