Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in an adult associated with methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus

Abstract

We report the first adult case of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This case is particularly unusual as the MRSA produced toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and enterotoxin, but not exfoliatoxin. SSSS was originally described in neonates and is thought to result from exfoliatins which produce subcorneal splitting of the epidermis and are only produced by certain strains of S. aureus. This case reflects the range of toxins that can be associated with SSSS and the clinical manifestations of MRSA infection in adult patients.