On the Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Etiology of Impetigo

Abstract

During 1958-1959 a number of patients with impetigo were examined in Amsterdam for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and haemolytic streptococci. The predominance of staphylococci of phage type 71 in the lesions, as was found earlier by Parker et al., Spittlehouse and Schmidt et al., was confirmed. The isolated strains proved to be penicillin sensitive. Phage-type 71 was frequently found in the noses of the home contacts of impetigo patients. It is suggested that haemolytic streptococci are relatively unimportant as etiological agents in superficial skin lesions and that they are often only of secondary importance.