Impetigo / Bacterial Infections

Impetigo is one of the most common skin diseases in children, with a peak incidence at 2-6 years of age. Lesions are highly contagious and can spread rapidly by direct contact, through a family, nursery, or class. The condition is more common in children with eczema/atopic dermatitis, in those living in tropical climates, and in conditions of overcrowding and poor hygiene. Nasal carriage of bacterial organisms may predispose to recurrent infection in an individual.
Impetigo can occur either as a primary infection or secondary to another condition, such as atopic dermatitis/eczema, which disrupts the skin barrier. It can be classified clinically as non-bullous impetigo or bullous impetigo. Impetigo contagiosa is caused by Staph aureus or Strep pyogenes. Bullous impetigo is invariably caused by toxin-producing Staph aureus. Treatments for impetigo include topical and oral antibiotics and topical antiseptics.