A nurse is caring for a child who has impetigo contagiosa that developed in the hospital. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Impetigo contagiosa is a highly contagious superficial bacterial skin infection commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. It is characterized by honey-colored crusted lesions and spreads easily through direct contact with infected skin or contaminated objects. In the hospital setting, preventing transmission is a priority to protect other patients and healthcare workers. Infection control measures are essential alongside antibiotic therapy to limit spread. Rationale: A. Initiating contact isolation precautions is correct because impetigo is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact and contaminated surfaces. Contact precautions include gloves, gown use, and proper hand hygiene to prevent transmission. This is essential in a hospital setting to control nosocomial spread of the infection. B. Amphotericin B IV is an antifungal medication used for severe systemic fungal infections, not bacterial skin infections like impetigo. Since impetigo is caused by bacteria, antifungal therapy is ineffective and inappropriate. Antibiotics, either topical or systemic, are the correct treatment approach. C. Reporting the disease to the state health department is not required for impetigo contagiosa because it is a common, non-reportable skin infection. It requires infection control measures within the hospital, but it does not meet criteria for mandatory public health reporting. D. Applying lidocaine ointment topically is not appropriate because impetigo does not typically cause pain requiring local anesthetic treatment. The condition is managed with antibacterial therapy rather than symptomatic anesthetic relief. Additionally, topical anesthetics may irritate broken skin and are not indicated.