Pascal Del Giudice
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3466

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen involved in skin infections worldwide, regardless of the patient’s age, the climate or geographical area. The main skin clinical manifestations can be linked to a few toxins produced by the bacteria, which give rise to a rich and varied clinical spectrum. Panton Valentine leucocidin, exfoliatins, enterotoxins and toxin shock syndrome toxin 1 are the main toxins involved in most dermatological manifestations associated with S. aureus. Other less frequent cutaneous manifestations can occur in endocarditis, bacteraemia. Currently, the most important event is worldwide emergence of community-acquired S. aureus resistant to methicillin (CA-MRSA), mainly causing skin infections.

This review describes the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus infections of the skin. Most can be linked to a few toxins produced by the bacteria, which give rise to specific clinical manifestations. Panton Valentine leucocidin, exfoliatins, enterotoxins and toxin shock syndrome toxin 1 are the main toxins involved in most dermatological manifestations associated with Staphylococcus aureus. Unfortunately, most reports of Staphylococcus aureus skin infections do not consider this complexity. This review should help further research into Staphylococcus aureus infections of the skin to consider this rich and varied clinical spectrum.