Reclassification of Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome by Clinical Analysis of 25 Cases

Kang, Jung Dae; Park, Seok Don

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is defined as a spectrum of superficial blistering skin disease caused by the exfoliative toxins of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. The spectrum of the disease includes generalized, localized (bullous impetigo), abortive and intermediate forms. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to reclassify clinical types of SSSS by reviewing the clinical and microbiologic features of SSSS and to redefine the clinical types exactly. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records, clinical photographs and the microbiologic results of 25 patients with SSSS and studied them according to the new classification. We defined the 3 clinical types as follows: i) The Generalized type is defined as a case where tender erythroderma and large thin bullae occur on the whole body excluding the mucous membrane, palms and soles. The nikolsky sign is positive. ii) The intermediate type is defined as a case where tender erythroderma and vesicles or pustules occur in the regionally limited area. The Nikolsky sign is positive. iii) The abortive type is defined as a case where tender erythema occurs only on the whole body or in regionally limited areas. The nikolsky sign is negative. All patients of SSSS have periorificial, radial crusting and fissuring. RESULTS: We could reclassify the clinical types of SSSS into 3 types (generalized, intermediate, abortive) according to this retrospective clinical study. Of the 25 patients, 3 patients were of the generalized type, 13 patients were of the intermediate type and 9 patients were of the abortive type. All the types have the acute eczematous lesion on the periorbital and perioral areas. The male to female sex ratio was 1: 1.3. The mean age of onset was 2.9 years. Cultures from the suspected site of the primary infection were positive in 14 out of 21 patients, and colonized sites were the throat (29%), conjunctiva (21%), nasal cavity (21%), ear (21%) and skin (8%) in 14 patients. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus were 8 cases and 6 cases, respectively. In all clinical types, the most common complication was conjunctivitis (54.5%). Four cases were accompanied by atopic dermatitis. All the patients were cured with first generation cephalosporin without significant sequelae. CONCLUSION: We reclassified SSSS into generalized, intermediate and abortive types with reference to our 25 cases and previously existing papers, and offered a correct definition for the 3 types.