Which bacteria is most commonly associated with impetigo?

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that primarily affects children but can occur in individuals of any age. The condition is often characterized by the presence of honey-colored crusted lesions that can develop anywhere on the body, but are most frequently found on the face and extremities.

Staphylococcus aureus is the bacteria most commonly associated with impetigo. It can cause both non-bullous and bullous forms of impetigo. In non-bullous impetigo, lesions typically start as small vesicles that quickly rupture, leading to the formation of characteristic crusts. Bullous impetigo is marked by larger fluid-filled blisters. This bacterium is adept at colonizing human skin, often residing in the nasal passages, and can spread easily via direct contact with an infected individual or through contaminated objects.

While Streptococcus pyogenes is also known to be a causative agent of impetigo, particularly in some cases, Staphylococcus aureus is more prevalent in most cases of the condition. Other options, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are primarily associated with different types of infections and are not typical pathogens responsible for impetigo. This distinction makes Staphyl