Nursery outbreak of scalded-skin syndrome. Scarlatiniform rash due to phage group I Staphylococcus aureus
H. S. Faden, J. P. Burke, L. A. Glasgow and J. R. Everett 3rd
From Aug 6 to 14, 1973, scariatiniform eruptions that were considered to be
mild forms of the staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome developed in four
neonates. One infant had mild epidermal peeling. All had generalized,
finely papular erythema that cleared rapidly after treatment with
antibiotics. Cultures from the umbilical stumps or anterior nares of three
of the infants yielded colonies of group I Staphylococcus aureus, phage
type 29/52/79/86/D11/81, that were able to produce epidermal exfoliation in
suckling mice. These data indicate that the nursery outbreak was caused by
phage group I staphylococci rather than group II organisms previously
associated with staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome. The demonstration
that a group I Staphylococcus can produce exfoliative toxin suggests that
the same mechanism for toxin production may exist for phage groups I and II
staphylococci.
