Impetigo Contagiosa in the United Kingdom

Summary.— A total of 72 patients with impetigo have been examined at the outpatients' department of St John's Hospital. Staphylococcus aureus was present in 87% of lesions; 60% belonged to the phage type 71 strain. Fifteen lesions yielded β‐haemolytic streptococci, mainly in association with Staph. aureus. No known nephritogenic strains were isolated and most of the streptococci were of established “impetigo” type. Twenty‐five of 54 patients from whom serum was obtained showed serological evidence of recent streptococcal infection. These results are discussed in relation to past experience in the U.K. and elsewhere.