Staphylococcal Epidermolysis: A Case Report

Acute staphylococcal epidermolysis, also known as staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), in young children is caused by the release of exfoliative toxins A and B (ETA and/or ETB) from an initial outbreak which can be ear-nose-throat, conjunctival or cutaneous. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome is characterized by painful erythroderma, quickly followed by generalized detachment with respect to mucous surfaces, regressing in 2 to 4 days on antibiotics. The positive diagnosis is mainly based on clinical examination and sometimes on skin biopsy. The course of the disease is benign, favored by anti-staphylococcal treatment combined with local care. However, the risk of fatal course is estimated at around 4% in the event of delay in antibiotic treatment. We report the case of an infant with SSSS, diagnosed and treated early with good evolution.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome and Bullous Impetigo

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) and bullous impetigo are infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The pathogenesis of both conditions centers around exotoxin mediated cleavage of desmoglein-1, which results in intraepidermal desquamation. Bullous impetigo is due to the local release of these toxins and thus, often presents with localized skin findings, whereas SSSS is from the systemic spread of these toxins, resulting in a more generalized rash and severe presentation. Both conditions are treated with antibiotics that target S. aureus. These conditions can sometimes be confused with other conditions that result in superficial blistering; the distinguishing features are outlined below.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in Healthy Infant

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) describes a spectrum of superficial blistering skin disorders caused by the exfoliative toxins of Staphylococcus aureus that originates from a focus of infection that may be a purulent conjunctivitis, otitis media, or occult nasopharyngeal infection. It usually begins with fever, irritability, and a generalized, paint, orange-red, macular erythema with cutaneous tenderness, and the rash progress from scarlatiniform to a blistering eruption in 24 to 48 hours. A diagnosis must distinguish SSSS from other skin diseases, such as toxic epidermal necrolysis, epidermolysis bullosa, bullous erythema multiforme, Streptococcal impetigo or listeriosis and thermal or chemical burns, all of which can manifest with similar symptoms. The prognosis of SSSS in children who are appropriately treated is good, with a mortality of less than 5%. A case was a three moths old boy hospitalized in Pediatric ward M. Djamil hospital with chief complain redness and peeling of the skin since 2 days before hospitalized. Culture of the skin, eyes and nose was Staphylococcus aureus, and patients was given ampicillin and gentamycin for seven days.

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in Healthy Infant

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) describes a spectrum of superficial blistering skin disorders caused by the exfoliative toxins of Staphylococcus aureus that originates from a focus of infection that may be a purulent conjunctivitis, otitis media, or occult nasopharyngeal infection. It usually begins with fever, irritability, and a generalized, paint, orange-red, macular erythema with cutaneous tenderness, and the rash progress from scarlatiniform to a blistering eruption in 24 to 48 hours. A diagnosis must distinguish SSSS from other skin diseases, such as toxic epidermal necrolysis, epidermolysis bullosa, bullous erythema multiforme, Streptococcal impetigo or listeriosis and thermal or chemical burns, all of which can manifest with similar symptoms. The prognosis of SSSS in children who are appropriately treated is good, with a mortality of less than 5%. A case was a three moths old boy hospitalized in Pediatric ward M. Djamil hospital with chief complain redness and peeling of the skin since 2 days before hospitalized. Culture of the skin, eyes and nose was Staphylococcus aureus, and patients was given ampicillin and gentamycin for seven days.

Genomic Epidemiology and Global Population Structure of Exfoliative Toxin A-Producing Staphylococcus aureus Strains Associated With Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

Staphylococci producing exfoliative toxins are the causative agents of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). Exfoliative toxin A (ETA) is encoded by eta, which is harbored on a temperate bacteriophage ΦETA. A recent increase in the incidence of SSSS in North America has been observed; yet it is largely unknown whether this is the result of host range expansion of ΦETA or migration and emergence of established lineages. Here, we detail an outbreak investigation of SSSS in a neonatal intensive care unit, for which we applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenetic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected from cases and screening of healthcare workers. We identified the causative strain as a methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) sequence type 582 (ST582) possessing ΦETA. To then elucidate the global distribution of ΦETA among staphylococci, we used a recently developed tool to query extant bacterial WGS data for biosamples containing eta, which yielded 436 genomes collected between 1994 and 2019 from 32 countries. Applying population genomic analysis, we resolved the global distribution of S. aureus with lysogenized ΦETA and assessed antibiotic resistance determinants as well as the diversity of ΦETA. The population is highly structured with eight dominant sequence clusters (SCs) that generally aligned with S. aureus ST clonal complexes. The most prevalent STs included ST109 (24.3%), ST15 (13.1%), ST121 (10.1%), and ST582 (7.1%). Among strains with available data, there was an even distribution of isolates from carriage and disease. Only the SC containing ST121 had significantly more isolates collected from disease (69%, n = 46) than carriage (31%, n = 21). Further, we identified 10.6% (46/436) of strains as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) based on the presence of mecA and the SCCmec element. Assessment of ΦETA diversity based on nucleotide identity revealed 27 phylogroups, and prophage gene content further resolved 62 clusters. ΦETA was relatively stable within lineages, yet prophage variation is geographically structured. This suggests that the reported increase in incidence is associated with migration and expansion of existing lineages, not the movement of ΦETA to new genomic backgrounds. This revised global view reveals that ΦETA is diverse and is widely distributed on multiple genomic backgrounds whose distribution varies geographically.

Antibiotic-resistant profile and the factors affecting the intravenous antibiotic treatment course of generalized Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome: A retrospective study

Background: Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) is caused by a special type of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) which can produce exfoliative toxins. The generalized SSSS is recommended to be admitted and treated with intravenous antibiotics. However, there were limited reports on whether personal and clinical factors can have impacts on the duration of intravenous antibiotic application for pediatric patients with generalized SSSS.We performed a study to assess the factors affecting intravenous antibiotic treatment course of SSSS patients. Additionally, the positive culture rates of S.aureus in different samples and the antibiotic-resistant profile were investigated. Methods: 219 patients with generalized SSSS were included. Gender, age, area, season, maximum axillary temperature, white blood cell(WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, types of intravenous antibiotics, and types of external antibiotics were recorded as the baseline. Simple linear regression was applied in the univariate analysis to determine the variables with statistical significance and then these variables were further examined in multivariate linear regression model. The positive culture rates of S.aureus in different samples and the drug sensitivity results were statistically compared by Fisher’s exact test and pairwise Chi square test respectively. Results: According to the multiple linear regression, older ages (β=-0.01, p <0.05) and external application of fusidic acid (β=-1.57, p <0.05) were associated with shorter treatment course, elevated leukocytes (β=0.11, p <0.001) and CRP level (β=1.64, p <0.01) were associated with longer treatment course. The positive culture rates of periorificial (54.55%) and throat swabs (30.77%) were higher than the ones of blood samples (5.97%) (p <0.01). The resistant rates of levofloxacin (8.33%), gentamycin (8.33%), tetracycline (25%), oxacillin (8.33%), vancomycin (0%) were significantly lower than the ones of erythromycin (100%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (83.33%), clindamycin (91.67%), penicillin G(100%) (p <0.001).Conclusion: Elevated leukocytes and CRP level indicated prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment course. Older ages and external application of fusidic acid helped to reduce the treatment course. Periorificial and throat swabs were useful to identify causative S.aureus. Oxacillin and vancomycin resistance was rare and clindamycin resistance was common. Clindamycin monotherapy for SSSS should be avoided.