Diagnosis
A cellulitis that goes from vesicular to crusted.
It can be nonbullous (70% of cases) or bullous (30% of ca ses).
Nonbullous impetigo is usually caused by S. aureus >> S. pyogenes.
Bullous impetigo is due to S. aureus with large, fragile, flaccid bullae that can rupture and ooze yellow fluid.
Epidemiologic Risks
Person to person; mostly a disease of children.
Microbiology
S. aureus and/ or Group A streptococcus.Empiric Therapy
Cephalexin or dicloxacillin if mixed Staphylococcus/Streptococcus. In this increasing era of MRSA, po doxycycline is more reliable where I live. Local millage will vary. Anything that can kill Staphylococcus and Streptococcus should work.
Topical Mupirocin also is effective as are other topical antibiotics.
Last Update: 10/08/18.