Kawasaki syndrome-like illness associated with infection caused by enterotoxin B-secreting Staphylococcus aureus

Two children had symptoms and clinical signs that were characteristic of th e diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki syndrome, temporally associated with Sta phylococcus aureus bacteremia. One child initially had focal osteomyelitis that was evident clinically and radiographically, and radiographic evidence of multifocal osteomyelitis was noted at follow-up. The blood-borne S. aur eus isolates from these two patients secreted staphylococcal enterotoxin B and were negative for toxic shock syndrome toxin. Staphylococcal and strept ococcal superantigens may play a rot in the pathogenesis of some cases of K awasaki syndrome or Kawasaki syndrome-like illness.