Back to Basics: A common rash

12 yo male with no significant pmh presents to the ED with a progressive rash on his feet over the past week. Afebrile and hemodynamically stable. No improvement with topical mupirocin and PO Clindamycin. Derm photos below. Diagnosis? Treatment plan?

 

 

 

Bullous impetigo 

 

 

Appearance:

Bullae and/or blisters, clear-yellow fluid that turns dark, leaves yellow crust when rupture 

 

Cause:

-- Staph aureus (MSSA or MRSA) - Epidermolytic toxin A and B act locally to cause blisters 

-- Also consider Strep pyogenes (GAS)

 

Treatment

Spontaneous resolution in 2-3 weeks OR ...

 

Antibiotic options:

Mupirocin 2%

TID for 14 days 

 

Cephalexin

25–50 mg/kg/24 hr PO ÷ Q6–12

MSSA or strep 

Clindamycin

10–40 mg/kg/24 hr ÷ Q6–8 hr;  max. dose: 1.8 g/24 hr

MRSA and strep

Trimethoprim-

sulfamethoxazole 

8–12 mg/kg/24 hr ÷ BID;  max. dose: 160 mg/dose

MRSA, poor strep

Doxycycline 

≤45 kg:  2.2–4.4 mg/kg/24 hr once daily–BID PO/IV 

>45 kg:  100–200 mg/24 hr ÷ once daily–BID PO/IV 

Max. dose:  200 mg/24 hr

MRSA, poor strep

Vancomycin 

15 mg/kg Q6h

MRSA

 

 References: 

Hartman-Adams H, Banvard C, Juckett G. Impetigo: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Aug 15;90(4):229-35.

Bonfante G, Dunn A. Rashes in Infants and Children. In: Tintinalli JE, Stapczynski J, Ma O, Yealy DM, Meckler GD, Cline DM. eds. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2016.

Lee CK. Drug Dosages. In: Hughes HK, Kahl LK. The Harriet Lane Handbook, 21e, 2018