Skin disorder IMPETIGO

A child with impetigo has a 24 month old sister at home. What will you be sure to include in your teaching to the parents about this condition? A. Keep the child's nails short B. Separate towels and other linens used by the child C. Wash hands with antibacterial soap regularly D. Prevent the child from scratching the lesions E. Vacuum carpets and furniture regularly F. Store stuffed animals and toys in plastic bags for 5 days

A. Keep the child's nails short B. Separate towels and other linens used by the child C. Wash hands with antibacterial soap regularly D. Prevent the child from scratching the lesions Impetigo is contagious and can be spread to other family members. Therefore, the child with the lesions should have their nails cut short to prevent scratching and spreading the infection. In addition, the child's towels, linens, toys etc. should be separated from other family members until the lesions are healed and wash hands regularly with antibacterial soap.

Impetigo tends to be most commonly found on: A. Mouth B. Ears C. Nose D. Torso E. Toes

A. Mouth C. Nose The answers are A and C. Impetigo most commonly tends to be found on the face like the mouth and nose. It can be found on the hands, arms, and legs.

You're providing education to a group of parents about impetigo. Which statement is CORRECT about this disease? A. "It tends to affect the preadolescent and adolescent population." B. "Cases of impetigo most likely to occur during the summer when the weather is warm." C. "Most cases of impetigo are not contagious." D. "Impetigo is caused by a mite parasite."

B. "Cases of impetigo most likely to occur during the summer when the weather is warm." This is the only correct statement about impetigo. All the other statements are FALSE.

A child has impetigo and is being treated with oral antibiotics. The father asks when the child can be allowed to return to school. Your answer is: A. After 72 hours from the start of the treatment B. After 24 hours from the start of the treatment C. After 48 hours from the start of the treatment D. After 1 week from the start of the treatment

B. After 24 hours from the start of the treatment Impetigo is highly contagious. Therefore, if the child is taking oral antibiotics for the treatment of this condition they are no longer contagious after 24 hours from the start of treatment. If the child was using topical antibiotic ointment for the treatment of this condition, they would no longer be contagious after 48 hours from the start of treatment. Therefore, the child can return to school after being on oral antibiotics for 24 hours.

Select all the most common infectious agents that cause impetigo: A. Sacroptes scabiei B. Staphylococcus aureus C. Klebsiella pneumoniae D. Haemophilus influenzae E. Streptococcus pyogenes F. Listeria monocytogenes

B. Staphylococcus aureus E. Streptococcus pyogenes These are the two types of bacteria that tend to cause impetigo....staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes.

A 2 year old with impetigo is ordered topical antibiotic ointment. You're teaching the child's mother how to apply the ointment. Which action by the mother during application of the ointment requires you to re-educate the parent? A. The mother washes her hands before and after the application of the ointment. B. The mother applies a layer of ointment directly over the crust of the lesion. C. The mother uses warm water and antibacterial soap to cleanse the lesions prior to application of ointment. D. The mother uses a cotton swab to apply the ointment.

B. The mother applies a layer of ointment directly over the crust of the lesion. It is very important to REMOVE any crust from the lesion BEFORE applying antibiotic ointment to the lesion. This allows the ointment to come into contact with the skin, which is where the bacteria reside. To remove the crust, use warm water and antibacterial soap. All the other options are correct.

A 4 year old is admitted to your unit with a severe case of impetigo. It is important the nurse follows _______________ while providing care to this patient: A. Droplet precautions B. Standard precautions only C. Contact precautions D. Airborne precaution

C. Contact precautions The nurse will follow contact precautions, which includes following standard precautions as well. Impetigo is a HIGHLY contagious skin infection. Therefore, the nurse should always where a gown and gloves when providing care to the patient to prevent transmission of the infection.

Infections are most common during the summer months. WHY?

Children are more active than adults in that they are running around bumping and scraping their skin, which decreases its integrity and allows for bacteria to enter the skin. In addition, children play in close proximity with each other and this leads to the spread of the infection

A parent brings her child into the clinic due to skin lesions that fail to heal. The lesions are red, reported to be itchy, and exhibit exudate. You suspect the child may have impetigo. What is a hallmark finding with this condition? A. Round patches with light pink centers B. Short grey lines on the skin C. Silver colored scales over the lesions D. Yellow crusts over the lesions

D. Yellow crusts over the lesions The answer is D. Yellow crusted over lesions are a hallmark of impetigo. Option A is a hallmark found with ringworm (tinea corporis), Option C is psoriasis, and Option B is scabies.

Impetigo tends to be found most commonly on the ____?

FACE (mouth or nasal area). It can also be found on hands, arms, and the legs

What would the teach the patient/patient's family to do at home?

Home education: separate linens, clothes, towels, toys etc. hand hygiene among family members, and child.

Impetigo affects what age group?

It affects children ages 2-6 but can affect adults.

What is impetigo?

It is a skin infection that is highly CONTAGIOUS!! It is VERY contagious and can be spread easily. As the nurse it is important to educate the child's parent about using separate linens, towels, toys etc.

Treatment: topical or oral (severe cases) antibiotics

Remove the crust prior to applying antibiotic ointment with warm water and antibacterial soap. WHY? This is where the bacteria live and the ointment needs to come into contact with the skin to kill the bacteria. It's contagious until the site is completely healed (it can be weeks) if NOT on treatment If receiving treatment: NOT contagious after 48 hours with TOPICAL ointment and 24 hours for ORAL antibiotics. Educate about completing full regime of treatment, especially if the patient has strep impetigo: can develop glomerulonephritis

Nursing Interventions for Impetigo

Prevention of spreading to other areas of the patient's body (**Touching the site can spread it to another site on the body), others, and yourself! Meticulous hand hygiene along with placing the patient in contact precautions, if hospitalized. Keep the child from scratching or touching sites on the body and keep the nails short along with performing regular hand hygiene with antibacterial soap (important for parents and other children in the home to follow as well).

Signs and Symptoms of Impetigo

Sequence of how it presents: It will start out as an itchy, painful red blister or bump....the area doesn't seem to heal but spreads. If it's a blister it can rupture....if not a blister it just spreads. Then the lesion will start to leak fluid that is honey-colored (strep)....clear or pus (staph). In addition to this it will leave behind red patches that crust over with yellowish brown crust....a painful swollen lymph node may present near the site because the immune systems recognition of the bacteria in the body.

What bacteria are the most common causes of impetigo?

Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus pyogenes