ABSTRACT
Bacterial infections of the skin are among the most common reasons for patients to seek medical care. Treatment is usually initiated on a morphological basis whereby the physician recognizes the lesions associated with impetigo. Using epidemiological knowledge of the most common bacterial pathogens causing impetigo, the physician then makes a diagnosis and initiates empiric therapy. For uncomplicated skin infections, this is almost always appropriate. There are times when a specific etiology is absolutely necessary for the successful outcome of therapy. To determine the specific etiology, it is important to determine whether this is a primary infection, a secondary infection superimposed upon an underlying dermatitis or dermatosis, or a cutaneous manifestation of a systemic bacterial infection. Cultures then should be obtained prior to initiating therapy in order to determine the susceptibility of the infecting organism, should the empiric agent prove not to be successful.
