Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is caused by an epidermolytic toxin produced by certain strains of Staphylococcal aureus.
Most common in very young children it can also occur in adults with a staphylococcal septicemia. Rarely fatal in children, that associated with a bacterial septicemia in adults has a worse prognosis.
There is diffuse cutaneous erythema with the epidermis separating from the patient in broad sheets.
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome should be differentiated from toxic epidermal necrolysis, a variant of erythema multiforme.

Treatment:

• Treatment with systemic antistaphylococcal antibiotics is indicated.
• Nasal and other skin carriage should be treated with topical mupirocin or fusidic acid*.
• Rapid improvement is usually seen in children.

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