STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME IN AN ADULT - IDENTIFICATION OF EXFOLIATIVE TOXIN-A AND TOXIN-B GENES BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

A 68-year-old man developed areas of erythema with flaccid bullae and wrinkling on his face, upper extremities, chest, right buttock, and sh ins. Histological examination revealed an intraepidermal cleavage with a sparse cellular infiltration in the dermis, consistent with a diagn osis of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Cultures from an abscess of his right knee joint and his blood were both positive for Staphylo coccus aureus. Both S. aureus isolates were confirmed to be double-pro ducers of ETA and ETB using the polymerase chain reaction. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug seemed to be one of the predisposi ng factors in this patient.