impetigo

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impetigo (imp-i-ty-goh) n. a superficial bacterial infection of the skin, which usually responds to treatment with antibiotics. bullous i. impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is characterized by blisters, is less contagious than the nonbullous form, and occurs at any age. nonbullous i. impetigo caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, or both organisms; it mainly affects young children and is highly contagious, with yellowish-brown crusting.

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