Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome developing during burn treatment

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is a skin blistering disease caused by exfoliative toxins from Staphylococcus aureus.
• Hospital-acquired infections are a concern in pediatric burn units.

Observation:

• A 5-year-old girl hospitalized for burn treatment developed SSSS following an upper respiratory tract infection.
• Clinical presentation included extensive erythema, exfoliation, and purulent discharge from the burn ulcer.
• Staphylococcus aureus producing exfoliative toxin A (ETA) was isolated from the patient's nasopharynx and skin lesions.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with SSSS based on clinical and laboratory findings.
• Antibiotic therapy resulted in the subsidence of SSSS symptoms.
• The source of infection, suspected to be an asymptomatic carrier, could not be identified despite investigation.

Implications:

• This case underscores the potential for SSSS as a hospital-acquired infection in vulnerable pediatric patients.
• Further research into the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of ETA-producing strains is crucial.
• Developing effective strategies to prevent SSSS in healthcare settings is necessary.