Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome Often Does Not Require Empiric Coverage for Methicillin Resistance

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) requires empiric anti‐staphylococcal antibiotic management, selected based on regional rates of resistance. We report a retrospective chart review of the 58 patients diagnosed with SSSS through dermatology consult in our pediatric emergency department between 2015 and 2024. Only one patient had methicillin‐resistant bacteria isolated on superficial bacterial culture, despite antibiogram data from our pediatric emergency department demonstrating methicillin resistance in 39.5%–46.8% of overall isolates growing Staphylococcus aureus . When selecting empiric antibiotic management for SSSS, providers should consider that institutional rates of MRSA in SSSS may differ from overall MRSA rates.