Forward from: Medical Quotes: By Disease
📌 Impetigo
🔸Introduction
Impetigo is a common, highly contagious superficial bacterial skin infection, primarily affecting children. It is caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes and manifests in two forms: nonbullous and bullous. The disease is prevalent worldwide, with a significant burden in low-income and tropical regions.
🔸Key Insights
Global Prevalence and Demographics:
· Impetigo affects over 140 million people globally, with a higher incidence in children, particularly those aged 2 to 5 years (1, 3, 4, 6).
· The prevalence is notably higher in underprivileged and marginalized communities, even in high-income countries (1).
Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis:
· Nonbullous impetigo, caused by both S. aureus and S. pyogenes, is more common (70%) and typically presents with honey-colored crusted lesions (3, 4, 6).
· Bullous impetigo, caused exclusively by S. aureus, is characterized by flabby bullae that rupture easily (3, 4, 6).
· Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on the appearance of characteristic lesions (3, 4, 6).
Treatment Guidelines and Antimicrobial Resistance:
· Topical antibiotics are recommended for localized impetigo, while oral antibiotics are reserved for extensive cases (2-6).
· There is a growing concern about antimicrobial resistance, particularly to commonly used topical agents, necessitating the use of systemic antibiotics in some regions (5, 8, 9, 10).
· Guidelines vary internationally, with some not including recommendations for non-antibiotic treatments like antiseptics (2).
Epidemiology and Risk Factors:
· Impetigo is more prevalent in warm, humid climates and is associated with poor hygiene, poverty, and co-infections like scabies (3, 4, 6, 7).
· The lower limbs, distal upper limbs, face, and scalp are the most commonly affected areas (7).
Complications and Long-term Impact:
· While generally mild, untreated impetigo can lead to serious complications such as acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and chronic heart and kidney diseases (3, 4, 6, 8).
🔸Conclusion
Impetigo remains a significant global health issue, particularly affecting children in low-income and tropical regions. The disease is primarily managed with topical antibiotics, but rising antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern. Effective management requires adherence to treatment guidelines, awareness of local resistance patterns, and consideration of alternative therapies to mitigate the spread of resistant bacteria. Enhanced hygiene practices and public health strategies are crucial in reducing the prevalence and impact of impetigo.
📖 References
1. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136789
2. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmab066
3. https://doi.org/10.1097/TME.0000000000000320
4. https://doi.org/10.5937/galmed2203034k
5. https://doi.org/10.36849/jdd.2020.4679
6. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra13948
7. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14154
8. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120909
9. https://doi.org/10.36849/JDD.2021.5795
10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.04.013
👉 Subscribe
🔸Introduction
Impetigo is a common, highly contagious superficial bacterial skin infection, primarily affecting children. It is caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes and manifests in two forms: nonbullous and bullous. The disease is prevalent worldwide, with a significant burden in low-income and tropical regions.
🔸Key Insights
Global Prevalence and Demographics:
· Impetigo affects over 140 million people globally, with a higher incidence in children, particularly those aged 2 to 5 years (1, 3, 4, 6).
· The prevalence is notably higher in underprivileged and marginalized communities, even in high-income countries (1).
Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis:
· Nonbullous impetigo, caused by both S. aureus and S. pyogenes, is more common (70%) and typically presents with honey-colored crusted lesions (3, 4, 6).
· Bullous impetigo, caused exclusively by S. aureus, is characterized by flabby bullae that rupture easily (3, 4, 6).
· Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on the appearance of characteristic lesions (3, 4, 6).
Treatment Guidelines and Antimicrobial Resistance:
· Topical antibiotics are recommended for localized impetigo, while oral antibiotics are reserved for extensive cases (2-6).
· There is a growing concern about antimicrobial resistance, particularly to commonly used topical agents, necessitating the use of systemic antibiotics in some regions (5, 8, 9, 10).
· Guidelines vary internationally, with some not including recommendations for non-antibiotic treatments like antiseptics (2).
Epidemiology and Risk Factors:
· Impetigo is more prevalent in warm, humid climates and is associated with poor hygiene, poverty, and co-infections like scabies (3, 4, 6, 7).
· The lower limbs, distal upper limbs, face, and scalp are the most commonly affected areas (7).
Complications and Long-term Impact:
· While generally mild, untreated impetigo can lead to serious complications such as acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and chronic heart and kidney diseases (3, 4, 6, 8).
🔸Conclusion
Impetigo remains a significant global health issue, particularly affecting children in low-income and tropical regions. The disease is primarily managed with topical antibiotics, but rising antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern. Effective management requires adherence to treatment guidelines, awareness of local resistance patterns, and consideration of alternative therapies to mitigate the spread of resistant bacteria. Enhanced hygiene practices and public health strategies are crucial in reducing the prevalence and impact of impetigo.
📖 References
1. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136789
2. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmab066
3. https://doi.org/10.1097/TME.0000000000000320
4. https://doi.org/10.5937/galmed2203034k
5. https://doi.org/10.36849/jdd.2020.4679
6. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra13948
7. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14154
8. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120909
9. https://doi.org/10.36849/JDD.2021.5795
10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.04.013
👉 Subscribe