This review found limited high- quality evidence to inform the treatment of impetigo .
BACKGROUND Impetigo is a common clinical problem seen in general practice .
Uncertainty exists as to the most effective treatment , or indeed if treatment is necessary .
AIM To determine the most effective treatment for impetigo in a systemically well patient .
The antibacterial activity of tea in vitro and in vivo (in patients with impetigo contagiosa).
A total number of 104 patients with impetigo contagiosa was included in this study . They were 47 females ( 45.2 % ) and 57 males ( 54.8 % ) . Their ages ranged from one month to 40 years with a median of 4 years . This study was divided into two parts : PART I ( in vitro ) : Thirty-five patients were swabbed to determine the microbiology of impetigo contagiosa which included 33 isolates of pure S. aureus ( 94.3 % ) and 2 of a combination of S. aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes ( 5.7 % ) . The antibacterial effect of tea liquor ( lotion ) against S. aureus proved very effective . Antibiotic sensitivity was done for all bacterial isolates of S. aureus . PART II ( in vivo ) : The antibacterial effects of tea liquor and ointment were tested by treating 64 patients with impetigo contagiosa . Tea ointment was very effective with a cure rate of 81.3 % . Forty patients were taken as controls and divided into two groups . The first one was given an ointment containing Framycetin and gramicidin ( soframycin ) with a cure rate of 72.2 % ; the other group was given oral cephalexin with a cure rate of 78.6 % . To the best of our knowledge , this study was the first one which demonstrated the anti-bacterial action of crude tea in vivo , against impetigo contagiosa . Clinical data about impetigo are also included in this study
This review found limited high- quality evidence to inform the treatment of impetigo .
BACKGROUND Impetigo is a common clinical problem seen in general practice .
Uncertainty exists as to the most effective treatment , or indeed if treatment is necessary .
AIM To determine the most effective treatment for impetigo in a systemically well patient .