Acute bacterial skin infections in children

Impetigo - review

“…Dosage of antistreptolysin O may not be useful for cutaneous infections since its titles do not increase satisfactorily. 1 The rapid detection test for streptococcus through latex is only used to demonstrate the presence of this agent in the oropharynx. For skin diseases, serological anti-DNA-ase B test, useful to demonstrate a previous streptococcal infection (group A streptococcus), can be performed.…”

“…For skin diseases, serological anti-DNA-ase B test, useful to demonstrate a previous streptococcal infection (group A streptococcus), can be performed. 1 However, besides being a high sensitivity and low specificity test, there are few laboratories that have it standardized in their routine.…”

“…1 S. aureus (coagulase positive) is often found in the skin, in a transient manner, in healthy children. Carriage status may occur in the nares in 35% of the population, in the perineum in 20%, in the axillae and interdigital regions in 5 to 10%.…”

“…Sometimes, the overgrowth of these bacteria causes skin diseases, and in other occasions, bacteria that are normally found on the skin can colonize it and cause diseases. 1 Skin microflora consists mainly of aerobic diphtheroids ( Corynebacterium spp . ), anaerobic diphtheroids ( Propionibacterium acnes ) and coagulase negative staphylococci ( Staphylococcus epidermidis ).…”

“…1,3 The presence of maceration, humidity, previous skin lesions, obesity, corticosteroid or chemotherapy treatments, dysglobulinemias, leukocyte disorders such as leukemia and chronic granulomatous disease, diabetes, malnutrition, other congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies, such as AIDS, are predisposing factors. 4 Most bacteria grow best in a neutral pH and a temperature of 37ºC.…”