Impetigo desperation!

[GumGumHooray]

Please help me. Since christmas last year I have had recurrent impetigo on my face. I don't know what caused it or where it came from, but its causing me major issues.

I wash my face daily, I don't use the same towel more than once, I'm always showering and scrubbing my hands, I frequently change my bed clothes and my change my clothes daily. Still I get these outbreaks, I have had at least 6 different types of anti biotics which initially clear up the problem but then it always comes back. I am presently keeping it under control with some Fucidin cream which I apply twice daily to what I fear is new patches forming.

I never used to get this so why now? I am severly depressed and when it gets bad wont leave the house. Now I am just waiting for another outbreak and my GP is refusing to give me any more anti biotics as he fears I will become immune to them if I need them in the future. What can I do?

I don't want this dirty desease any longer. Is there anything I can do or have done to rid myself of this? I need help and I don't know what to do. I have spent a fortune on prescriptions and now I look dirty and its so embarrasing.

Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[terryhallinan]

For roughly 70 years the impetigo I had occasionally was treated simply with first ammoniated mercury and then for decades later with antibiotics.

And now the antibiotics don't work.

My doctor seems to doubt I even have impetigo. He gave me a prescription for a herpes treatment that works fine it seems on sores that have subsequently developed in my mouth but nothing has worked on the impetigo.

I now read that impetigo can even result from staph infections that would explain, by itself, the futility of using antibiotics on such an infection.

Now if I can just find some ammoniated mercury, which I expect would work like it always did before the new-fangled antibiotics came into existence.

Best,  Terry

[jagesh50]

From the pus the lab grows the bacteria in a dish,and expose to antibiotic and see which is sensitive and which is resistant.You will be given the right antibiotic.

[GumGumHooray]

how do I get a culture and what is one?

Thanks for the advice so far. x

[jagesh50]

Sorry I missed out on the earlier reply by C34.Indeed it used to be a great medication,ammoniated mercury.Thanks for reminding some of the greats of yesteryears.Unfortunately out of vouge,perhaps due to some side effects.

[jagesh50]

Best to get a culture and sensitivity test,recognize the organism and the drug needed..If you are having a resistant organism drugs may be modified accordingly.

[Chrisla34]

I remember, back when I was a child and we camped out for the summer, that my younger brothers and sisters had empetigo. My mother treated it with ammoniated mercury, and it didn't come back. As I recall, the ammoniated mercury came in a tube, and was not prescription, but I don't know if it's even available now.