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An innovative local treatment for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

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Abstract

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is the clinical term used to describe a range of blistering skin disorders induced by the exfoliative toxins of Staphylococcus aureus and prevalently affects neonates, infants and toddlers who lack antibodies to S. aureus toxins. SSSS is a highly contagious disease and is characterised by erythema and fever, followed by the formation of large fragile superficial blisters, which rupture only to leave extensive areas of denuded skin. A diagnosis of SSSS relies on the clinical picture, as well as on histological and microbiological findings. Neonates and young infants are particularly susceptible to a lack of the protective skin barrier, which may cause excessive protein and fluid losses, hypothermia and secondary infection. Due to a complete denudation of skin, the patients also suffer from almost unbearable pain. In our communication, we present an innovative temporary coverage of the denuded skin with Suprathel® (PolyMedics Innovations GmbH, Denkendorf, Germany). Suprathel® relieves pain, prevents heat loss and secondary infection, accelerates wound healing, does not need to be changed and makes daily care easy for the nurses and is well tolerable for the patient.

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Conflict of interest

The authors indicate that they have no financial relationships to this article to disclose and they do not have any relationship to the manufacturer of the described dressing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paediatric Burns Centre, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    E. Mueller & M. Trop

  2. Department of Neonatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    M. Haim

  3. Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    T. Petnehazy

  4. Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    B. Acham-Roschitz

Authors
  1. E. Mueller
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  2. M. Haim
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  3. T. Petnehazy
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  4. B. Acham-Roschitz
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  5. M. Trop
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Trop.

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Mueller, E., Haim, M., Petnehazy, T. et al. An innovative local treatment for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 29, 893–897 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-0927-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-0927-x

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