[Staphylococcal and streptococcal pediatric toxic syndrome from 1998 to 2000. Data from the National Center for Staphylococcal Toxemia].

The clinical and microbial settings of staphylococcal and streptococcal toxemia in pediatric patients were investigated by the French National Reference Center for Staphylococcal Toxemia. From 1998 to 2000, the number of cases was low in regard to the usual putative incidence of these toxemia; this low incidence was probably linked to the passive collection of cases. The most significant finding was the evidence of skin infections as the source of the majorities of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome and staphylococcal scarlet fever as described for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome or nosocomial suppurative infections. Moreover, most of scalded skin syndrome were from pediatric patients and were exceptional in adults. For other syndromes, no significant original findings were observed.