it is considered contagious until it is clinically improved or gone. if the impetigo area can be covered it would not be considered contagious since transmission requires direct contact. it can spread by indirect contact if the person with the impetigo touches or picks at this sore and then touches their unwashed hands to a surface. not knowing the age of the person with impetigo the location on the body the type of oral antibiotic or the extent/severity of the infection it would not be possible to know exactly when this person is no longer capable of spread this staph or strep infection to others.
is impetigo still contagious after the start of oral antibiotics? if so for how long?