<prompt> Acute mastitis commonly occurs during-PregnancyPubertyLactationInfancy  <response>: Involvement of the interlobular connective tissue of the breast by an infectious process. The patient develops nipple fissuring and milk stasis, which initiate a retrograde bacterial infection. Emptying of the breast using breast suction pumps shortens the duration of symptoms and reduces the incidence of recurrences. The addition of antibiotic therapy results in a satisfactory outcome in 95 of cases. 