Bullous impetigo is primarily caused by which organism?

Bullous impetigo is primarily caused by which organism?

• A. Staphylococcus aureus
• B. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
• C. Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• D. Streptococcus pyogenes

Answer: (A)

Bullous impetigo is driven by toxins from Staphylococcus aureus that damage the superficial layer of the skin. The exfoliative toxins produced by this organism cleave desmoglein-1 in the upper epidermis, causing a shallow intraepidermal split and the formation of fragile, fluid-filled blisters. This toxin-mediated mechanism explains why Staphylococcus aureus is the classic cause of bullous impetigo. The other organisms listed cause different diseases: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae leads to erysipeloid, Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes cutaneous diphtheria, and Streptococcus pyogenes more commonly causes nonbullous impetigo and other infections rather than the bullous form.

Bullous impetigo is driven by toxins from Staphylococcus aureus that damage the superficial layer of the skin. The exfoliative toxins produced by this organism cleave desmoglein-1 in the upper epidermis, causing a shallow intraepidermal split and the formation of fragile, fluid-filled blisters. This toxin-mediated mechanism explains why Staphylococcus aureus is the classic cause of bullous impetigo. The other organisms listed cause different diseases: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae leads to erysipeloid, Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes cutaneous diphtheria, and Streptococcus pyogenes more commonly causes nonbullous impetigo and other infections rather than the bullous form.