Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. II. Serum level of anti exfoliatin and anti alpha-toxin in patients with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome or bullous impetigo.

In order to study the differences between staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) and bullous impetigo, the anti exfoliatin level was assessed in the sera from both groups of patients, and no significant difference in the level was found. However a significant difference was noted in the anti alpha-toxin levels in sera from both group of patients; that of SSSS patients was much lower than that of impetigo patients and of children in a control group. Five out of 6 patients with SSSS showed an unchaged level of anti alpha-toxin at the second examination, while an increased anti exfoliatin level was noted in 4 out of 6 SSSS patients.