Impetigo still spreading after antibiotics

A few new spots may appear before treatment has had time to settle the infection, but continued spread can also happen if doses are missed, the medicine does not match the bacteria, the diagnosis is different, or skin-to-skin and household transmission continues. Scratching can move bacteria to nearby broken skin. A clinician may need to inspect the lesions and reconsider the plan.

Keep taking the prescribed medicine until you receive specific advice, unless a serious reaction occurs. Do not double a missed dose or use someone else’s medicine.

Clean the skin gently, dry it carefully, and cover sores with clean dressings where possible. Wash hands often, keep fingernails short, and avoid picking crusts. Do not share towels, bedding, clothes, face cloths, razors, or toys that touch the face. Launder items that contact the lesions and clean frequently touched surfaces.

Tell the clinic when the medicine started, how doses have been taken, and whether anyone close to you has similar sores. Mention new products or wounds that may be irritating the skin.

Contact a clinician promptly when fresh lesions continue, existing areas are enlarging, or treatment is causing significant diarrhoea or vomiting. Seek urgent care for fever with severe illness, rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, swelling near an eye, red streaks, or trouble breathing or facial swelling after a dose.

Ask whether the appearance still fits impetigo, whether a swab or different treatment is needed, how long to continue the current medicine, and when school, nursery, work, swimming, or sport is safe. Ask how close contacts should respond if they develop sores.