2.3 Data collection
Electronic medical records were identified and the following data
elements were derived: age, postpartum time, parity, history of
mastitis, time from onset, laterality, pain, swelling, heat and redness
in the breast, breast mass, body temperature and SLCs. Antibiotic use
and clinical outcomes were also collected from medical records.
Patients were asked to return to the hospital for follow-up on the
seventh day and to report the current situation by telephone if they
could not return to the hospital for any reason. For patients who
returned to the hospital, a clinical physician could make an efficacy
evaluation by comparing the signs and symptoms between their first
presentation and the last follow up; for patients who did not return to
the hospital, an efficacy evaluation was made by the patients themselves
and was reported to the physicians by telephone.