18.1.7
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2023. Chapter 18, Skin Conditions.
Clinical Description
Skin disease characterized by exfoliation or erosion of the skin as a result of its cleavage by toxins released from infecting bacteria. Lacks mucosal involvement and is not secondary to drugs.
Cause: Staph. Aureus
Signs and Symptoms
- Malaise, fever, irritability, sore throat
- Sloughing of skin leaving moist skin and varnish-like crusts
- Severe skin tenderness and erythema
- Skin wrinkling with flaccid bullae
- Scaling and desquamation
Investigations
- Diagnosis is usually clinical
- Blood culture to isolate offending bacteria
Treatment
- Replace fluids
- Analgesics
- Give Flucloxacillin or Cloxacillin 250 - 500 mg 6 hourly for 7days or
- Ceftriaxone 1g IV daily for 5-7days
Check doses against the printed guideline and your clinical judgement before treating a patient. Spotted an error? Report it from the contact links below.
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