II. Epidemiology
- Preschool children (age 2-5 years old) most often affected
- Most common Bacterial Skin Infection in children
- Non-Bullous Impetigo represents 70% of cases, whereas Bullous Impetigo represents the remainder
- Highly contagious
- Spreads across body with scratching, towels or clothing resulting in satellite lesions (autoinoculation)
- Spreads easily in daycares and schools
III. Pathophysiology
- Streptococcus Pyogenes and Staphylococcus Aureus normally colonize the nose and pharynx, axilla and perineum
- Local Skin Trauma allows colonizing Bacteria to break through skin barrier and results in localized infection
IV. Causes
-
Staphylococcus Aureus
- Most common cause of Impetigo
-
Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus Pyogenes)
- May also cause Impetigo, especially in warm, humid climates
V. Predisposing factors
- Minor Skin Trauma (e.g. abrasions, Insect Bites)
- Hot, humid weather
- Poor hygiene
- Daycare attendence
- Over-crowded living conditions
- Comorbid conditions (especially Diabetes Mellitus)
- Malnutrition
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Dialysis
VI. Types
-
Bullous Impetigo (less common)
- Staphylococcal toxin mediated reaction
- NonBullous Impetigo (>70%): Described below
- Host response to infection
- Primary Impetigo (most common)
- Due to direct spread of infection
- Secondary Impetigo (Common Impetigo)
- Related to underlying secondary Impetigo cause
- Common predisposing factors (see above)
VII. Symptoms
- Pruritus is often present
VIII. Signs: Streptococcal Impetigo
- Distribution
- Affects face (esp. nares, perioral), extremities and other exposed areas
- Characteristics
- Onset with 2 mm Macule or Papule
- Rapidly evolves into vessicle and erythematous margin
- Vessicle breaks
- Leaves erosion with honey colored crust
- Full skin thickness lesions occur with Ecthyma due to Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus
- Associated findings
IX. Signs: Staphylococcal Impetigo
- Similar to Streptococcal Impetigo
- Minimal surrounding erythema
- Lesion more shallow
X. Complications
- Cellulitis
-
Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis (PSGN)
- Occurs with Streptococcal Impetigo caused by S. pyogenes (the Impetigo strains have minimal nephritogenic potential)
- Rare now due to Staphylococcus Aureus as the most Common Impetigo cause (previously 1-5% of Impetigo)
- PSGN is most commonly associated with Streptococcal Pharyngitis (also due to Streptococcus Pyogenes)
- Not prevented by Antibiotic use
XI. Labs: Optional (Impetigo is clinical diagnosis)
- Lesion Gram Stain reveals Gram Positive Cocci
- Lesion culture indications
- Poststreptoccal Glomerulonephritis outbreaks
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal aureus suspected
XII. Differential Diagnosis
- Common
- Uncommon
- Acute Pustular Psoriasis
- Acute Palmoplantar Pustulosis
- Primary cutaneous Listeriosis (farmers)
- Sweet's Syndrome
- Pemphigous foliaceus
- Ecthyma
- Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (especially childhood)
- Zinc Deficiency (perioral facial rash)
XIII. Course
- Mild to moderate cases are non-scarring, self limited
- Untreated cases heal in 3-6 weeks
- Treated cases resolve more quickly
XIV. Management
- Infections are self-limited even without Antibiotics
- However Antibiotics speed resolution and help to prevent spread to others
- Topical therapy (as effective as systemic)
- Mupirocin (Bactroban) 2% ointment
- Applied three times daily to affected area for 7-10 days
- May be used in age 2 months and older
- Retapamulin (Altabax) 1% ointment
- Apply twice daily to affected area for 5 days
- May be used in age 9 months and older
- Treatment area must be <100 cm2 (or <2% total BSA in children)
- Fusidic Acid 2% cream (Not available in United States)
- Apply three times daily to affected area for 10-12 days
- Koning (2002) BMJ 324:203-6 [PubMed]
- Mupirocin (Bactroban) 2% ointment
- Systemic Agents
- General
- In most cases, topical agents are preferred
- Systemics indicated in severe or extensive cases
- Preferred systemic agents
- Cephalexin (Keflex)
- Child: 25-50 mg/kg/day divided bid-qid x10 days
- Adult: 250-500 mg PO qid for 10 days
- Dicloxacillin
- Child: 12.5 to 25 mg/kg/day PO divided qid
- Adult: 250-500 mg PO qid for 5-7 days
- Cephalexin (Keflex)
- Staphylococcus suspected (especially if suspected MRSA)
- Precautions
- Review local antibiograms to determine local resistance rates
- Given the self-limited nature of Impetigo, consider topical agents only (see above)
- Clindamycin
- Adult: 300-600 every 6-8 hours for 10 days
- Child: 10-25 mg/kg/day divided every 6 to 8 hours
- Doxycycline
- Adult: 100 mg twice daily for 10 days
- Child: Do not use under age 8 years old
- Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Septra)
- Adult: 1 tab twice daily for 10 days
- Child: 8-10 mg/kg/day (of trimethoprim component) divided twice daily for 10 days
- Precautions
- Other systemic agents with higher resistance rates
- Precautions
- These agents are not recommended for Impetigo due to high resistance rates
- Also, these are less effective given a predominance of Staphylococcus Aureus in Impetigo
- Penicillin VK
- Child: 25 to 50 mg/kg/day divided qid for 10 days
- Adult: 250 mg PO qid for 10 days
- Amoxicillin
- Child: 40 mg/kg/day PO divided tid for 10 days
- Adult: 250 mg PO tid for 10 days
- Erythromycin
- Child: 30-50 mg/kg/day PO divided qid for 10 days
- Adult: 250 mg PO qid for 10 days
- Precautions
- General
- Avoid Topical Disinfectants (no better than Placebo)
- Hexachlorophene (Phisohex)
- Povidone-IodineShampoo offers no benefit
XV. Prevention
- Clean minor injuries with soap and water
- Regular Handwashing and bathing
- Avoid contact with infected children
XVI. References
- Cydulka in Marx (2002) Rosen's Emergency Med., p. 1639
- Swartz in Mandell (2000) Infectious Disease, p. 1037
- Cole (2007) Am Fam Physician 75(6):859-68 [PubMed]
- Brown (2003) Int J Dermatol 42:251-5 [PubMed]
- Hartman-Adams (2014) 90(4): 229-35 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
| Definition (MEDLINEPLUS) |
Impetigo is a skin infection caused by bacteria. It is usually caused by staphylococcal (staph) bacteria, but it can also be caused by streptococcal (strep) bacteria. It is most common in children between the ages of two and six. It usually starts when bacteria get into a break in the skin, such as a cut, scratch, or insect bite. Symptoms start with red or pimple-like sores surrounded by red skin. These sores can be anywhere, but usually they occur on your face, arms and legs. The sores fill with pus, then break open after a few days and form a thick crust. They are often itchy, but scratching them can spread the sores. Impetigo can spread by contact with sores or nasal discharge from an infected person. You can treat impetigo with antibiotics. NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
| Definition (NCI) | A contagious bacterial cutaneous infection that affects children and is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It usually presents in the face with honey colored scabs. |
| Definition (MSH) | A common superficial bacterial infection caused by STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS or group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Characteristics include pustular lesions that rupture and discharge a thin, amber-colored fluid that dries and forms a crust. This condition is commonly located on the face, especially about the mouth and nose. |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D007169 |
| ICD9 | 684 |
| ICD10 | L01 , L01.0, L01.00 |
| SnomedCT | 200710001, 156319000, 267836006, 48277006 |
| English | Impetigo, Impetigo NOS, Impetigo [any organism] [any site], impetigo, impetigo (diagnosis), Impetigo, unspecified, Impetigo [Disease/Finding], Impetigo NOS (disorder), Superficial pustule, Impetigo (disorder), Impetigo, NOS |
| Dutch | impetigo NAO, Impetigo [elk organisme][elke lokalisatie], impetigo, Impetigo |
| French | Impétigo SAI, Impétigo |
| German | Impetigo NNB, Impetigo contagiosa [jeder Erreger] [jede Lokalisation], Impetigo |
| Italian | Impetigine NAS, Impetigine |
| Portuguese | Impetigo NE, Impetigo |
| Spanish | Impétigo NEOM, impétigo, SAI (trastorno), impétigo, SAI, impétigo (trastorno), impétigo, Impétigo |
| Japanese | 膿痂疹ＮＯＳ, 膿痂疹, ﾉｳｶｼﾝ, ﾉｳｶｼﾝNOS |
| Swedish | Svinkoppor |
| Czech | impetigo, Impetigo, Impetigo NOS |
| Finnish | Märkärupi |
| Russian | IMPETIGO, ИМПЕТИГО |
| Korean | 농가진[모든 부위][모든 미생물], 농가진 |
| Polish | Liszajec |
| Hungarian | impetigo k.m.n., impetigo |
| Norwegian | Impetigo |
Ontology: Streptococcal impetigo (C0406097)
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| SnomedCT | 238375000 |
| Italian | Impetigine streptococcica |
| Japanese | レンサ球菌性膿痂疹, ﾚﾝｻｷｭｳｷﾝｾｲﾉｳｶｼﾝ |
| Czech | Streptokokové impetigo |
| Hungarian | streptococcus impetigo |
| English | Streptococcal impetigo (diagnosis), impetigo streptococcal, Streptococcal impetigo, Streptococcal impetigo (disorder) |
| Spanish | impétigo estreptocócico (trastorno), impétigo estreptocócico, Impétigo estreptocócico |
| Portuguese | Impetigo estreptocócico |
| Dutch | streptokokkenimpetigo |
| French | Impétigo streptococcique |
| German | Impetigo durch Streptokokken |
Ontology: Staphylococcal impetigo (C0853937)
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| Italian | Impetigine stafilococcica |
| Japanese | ブドウ球菌性膿痂疹, ﾌﾞﾄﾞｳｷｭｳｷﾝｾｲﾉｳｶｼﾝ |
| Czech | Stafylokokové impetigo |
| English | Staphylococcal impetigo |
| Hungarian | Staphylococcus impetigo |
| Portuguese | Impetigo estafilocócico |
| Spanish | Impétigo estafilocócico |
| Dutch | stafylokokkenimpetigo |
| French | Impétigo staphylococcique |
| German | Impetigo durch Staphylokokken |
