Empirical therapy for patients with limited nonbullous impetigo

For additional aspects of management, see Management of impetigo.

For patients with nonrecurrent limited nonbullous impetigo (up to 2 sores) who are not at high risk of acute rheumatic fever, useKoning, 2012 National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2020:

1mupirocin 2% ointment or cream topically to crusted areas, 8-hourly for 5 days mupirocin mupirocin mupirocin

OR

2hydrogen peroxide 1% cream topically to crusted areas, 8-hourly for 5 days. hydrogen peroxide hydrogen peroxide hydrogen peroxide

For patients with limited nonbullous impetigo who are at high risk of acute rheumatic fever, use empirical therapy for patients with extensive, recurrent or bullous impetigo.

If impetigo is not improving, take a skin swab for culture and susceptibility testingThe Australian Healthy Skin Consortium, 2023.