Prevalence and Associations of General Practice Registrars' Management of Impetigo: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) Study

Hilary Gorges; Clare Heal; Mieke van Driel; Amanda Tapley; Joshua Davis; Andrew Davey; Elizabeth Holliday; Jean Ball; Nashwa Najib; Neil Spike; Kristen Fitzgerald; Parker Magin

doi:10.5826/dpc.1002a43

Prevalence and Associations of General Practice Registrars' Management of Impetigo: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) Study

Dermatol Pract Concept. 2020 Apr 3;10(2):e2020043. doi: 10.5826/dpc.1002a43. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Mackay Clinical School, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Mackay, Australia.
² Primary Care & General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia.
³ GP Synergy, Australia.
⁴ Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research School of Medicine, Darwin, Australia.
⁵ Biostatistics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
⁶ Clinical Research Design and Statistics, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambston Heights, Australia.
⁷ Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Notting Hill, Australia.
⁸ General Practice Training Tasmania.

Abstract

Background: Impetigo is a mild bacterial skin infection of childhood that is usually managed empirically in primary care.

Objective: To establish the prevalence and associations of impetigo in general practice (GP) registrars' consultations.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) study data.

Results: Impetigo was managed in 0.24% of problems and 0.43% of consultations. Patient variables associated with impetigo presentations were younger age and impetigo as a new problem, while patients with non-English-speaking backgrounds were less likely to present with impetigo. Associated registrar variables were being new to the registrar and practicing in outer regional/remote locations. Compared with all other problems/diagnoses, impetigo more often involved information seeking, ordering pathology, and prescription of medication, but less often involved follow-up or referral.

Conclusions: Impetigo accounts for 0.43 per 100 GP registrar consultations in Australia. Association with outer regional/remote areas may reflect climate and socioeconomic factors that predispose to impetigo. Associated pathology requests may reflect a lack of confidence in GP registrars' management of impetigo. Cultural differences may exist regarding health-seeking behavior relating to impetigo.

Keywords: bacterial; impetigo; prevalence; primary care; skin infection.