Imeptigo - antibiotics not working

Hi, I'm a twenty-one year old Australian female and I've been diagnosed with impetigo, and have had it for roughly a week on the left-hand side of my neck. I have been put on Amoxil, and I'm on the forth day of my treatment.

However, the impetigo has continued to spread. Although the original sores have now crusted over, new ones have appeared and it has begun to move onto the front of my neck and a couple have appeared on my jawline. Several have erupted into ***** sores (only after treatment)

Is it abnormal for the spreading to continue after 4 days of antibiotics? I have been taking it as the doctor advised, and am washing towels and my hands (near-obsessively), stripping sheets, and have not scratched nor popped any of the sores. Nor am I in contact with whoever gave it to me.

Is it possible that it's MRSA?

Also, I am due to fly out of Australia to LA, then onto Mexico (GDL) in 15 days. Will I find any problems travelling with this?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Impetigo is caused by streptococcus (strep) or staphylococcus (staph) bacteria. Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is becoming a common cause.So in your case ,it can be MRSA.But it can be confirmed only after culture of the oozing fluid orskin of the lesion. The culture can help determine if MRSA is the cause, because specific antibiotics are used to treat this infection.

I think that you should get a skin culture done to rule out MRSA.You won’t be having any problem traveling with this provided it being a contagious disease,you minimize contact with others.Also wash the skin several times a day, preferably with an antibacterial soap, to remove crusts and drainage.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.