A 23-year-old female diagnosed with acute mastitis requires antibiotics. Which medication is often prescribed?

In the case of a 23-year-old female diagnosed with acute mastitis, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic is dicloxacillin. This medication falls under the category of penicillinase-resistant penicillins and is effective against Staphylococcus aureus, which is a common causative organism in acute mastitis. Dicloxacillin is favored because it effectively targets the bacteria responsible for this infection and provides rapid relief of symptoms.

Cephalexin, while effective against certain bacterial infections, is not as specifically targeted toward the typical pathogens involved in mastitis as dicloxacillin is.

Amoxicillin, although it has broader coverage, is not resistant to penicillinase-producing bacteria, which limits its effectiveness against staphylococcal infections commonly seen in mastitis cases.

Tetracycline's use is also inappropriate in this scenario, as it is not a first-line treatment for mastitis and can have issues with effectiveness against strains that produce resistance.

Overall, dicloxacillin is the best choice for treating acute mastitis due to its effectiveness against the most likely organisms involved, making it the most appropriate antibiotic in this context.