What is the best treatment for impetigo?

Abstract

Q. What is the best treatment for impetigo? A. Although evidence is lacking to support a single best treatment for impetigo, topical mupirocin, fusidic acid, gentamicin, and retapamulin are all at least 20% more likely than placebo to produce cure or improvement (strength of recommendation [SOR]: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and a single RCT of retapamulin). Topical bacitracin and fusidicacid are 15% more likely than disinfectant solutions to cure or improve impetigo (SOR: a systematic review of RCTs). Oral antibiotics may be as effective as topical antibiotics (SOR: b, RCTs with different results).