Infectious Disease Compendium

Impetigo

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.