The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Primary Article

Generalized Exfoliation Associated With Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Authors: JOSEPH M. LYNCH MD, ROGER DREILING MD, GLENN R. HODGES MD, DAVID HUFFMAN MD, ANITA DIXON MD, WILLIAM G. BARNES PhD, FRANK A. KAPRAL MD

Abstract

A 67-year-old man presented with a rash that was refractory to systemic corticosteroid therapy. Physical examination revealed sloughing skin on his hands, soles, and lower extremities. Stroking involved and uninvolved skin produced Nikolskys sign. Skin biopsies revealed the plane of cleavage to be in the basal epidermal layer. Cultures of the patients skin, blood, nose, and throat grew Staphylococcus aureus. These isolates produced an epidermal toxin that caused Nikolskys sign in neonatal mice. The toxin caused cleavage in the basal epidermal layer of neonatal mice, was heat labile, and was not neutralized by exfoliatin antitoxin.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References