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

## TL;DR

This paper reports the first case of impetigo occurring as a surgical site infection after patellar fracture surgery in a young woman.

## Contribution

The paper presents the first documented case of impetigo following patellar surgery with visible diagnostic skin lesions.

## Key findings

- Impetigo occurred as a surgical site infection after open reduction and internal fixation of a patellar fracture.
- The infection presented with characteristic 'honey-crusted' lesions, aiding in its diagnosis.
- The case highlights the rare occurrence of impetigo in this surgical context.

## Abstract

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.