Impetigo Surgical Site Infection Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of a Patella Fracture

Impetigo is a pediatric skin infection characterized by the presence of pathognomonic "honey-crusted" lesions caused by either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. The diagnosis of impetigo is largely based on clinical judgment, confirmatory skin cultures, and Gram staining. Surgical site infections following patellar surgery are a relatively uncommon occurrence, with the most common causative organisms being Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other gram-negative bacilli. Surgical site infections have a range of risk factors that largely depend on patient characteristics and surgical logistics. We report the first documented case in the literature of a surgical impetigo infection with diagnostic skin lesions following open reduction and internal fixation of a patellar fracture in a 24-year-old female.