Fusidic acid cream is an effective treatment for impetigo

The combination of topical fusidic acid and povidone-iodine shampoo was found to be much more effective than placebo and povidone-iodine shampoo in treating impetigo in children. In a randomised controlled trial Koning et al (p 203) also found more adverse effects in the children who were given placebo cream. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause of the infection, and none of the strains isolated were resistant to fusidic acid.