Background:
• Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection of the skin, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection • Good hygiene measures help prevent spread of impetigo to other areas of the body and to other people
Prescribing considerations:
Take into account: • that topical and oral antibiotics are both effective at treating impetigo. • the person’s preferences, including practicalities of administration and possible adverse effects. • that antimicrobial resistance can develop rapidly with extended or repeated use of topical antibiotics • local antimicrobial resistance data
Microbiological testing:
If a skin swab has been sent for microbiological testing, review and change antibiotic according to results if symptoms are not improving, using narrow-spectrum antibiotic if possible. For impetigo that recurs frequently: • send a skin swab for microbiological testing and • consider taking a nasal swab and starting treatment for decolonisation.
