Staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome complicating wound infection in a preterm infant with postoperative chylothorax.
The course of infection in a 3-week-old premature newborn suffering from extensive dermatitis with flaccid blisters is described. Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from a local wound infection around a chest tube inserted to drain a postoperative chylothorax. The strain isolated tested positive for the eta gene for exfoliative toxin A, the causative agent of staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome (SSSS). In this case, prematurity and loss of chylus with consecutive lymphopenia may have contributed to development of SSSS.
Peters
B
B
Department of Neonatology, Charité-Virchow Hospital, Humbold University, Berlin, Germany. bpeters@ukrv.de
Hentschel
J
J
Mau
H
H
Halle
E
E
Witte
W
W
Obladen
M
M
D002916:Chylothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004947:Esophagus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013206:Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology*