Hospitalizations for staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in Spain (2016-2023): unequal disease burden concentrated in infants.

AIM: This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics and direct healthcare costs of hospitalizations resulting from staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) in Spain, stratified by age group.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This retrospective, population-based study included all patients hospitalized with SSSS in Spain between 2016 and 2023. Data were obtained from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database and stratified into three age groups for the main analysis: 0-4 years, 5-14 years, and ≥15 years. Outcomes were hospitalization rates per 100,000 admissions and per 1,000,000 population. Temporal trends were assessed using linear regression.

RESULTS

Children aged 0-4 years accounted for most the 1100 SSSS-related hospitalizations (n = 817, 74.3%), followed by those aged 5-14 years (n = 199, 18.1%) and adults (n = 84, 7.6%). Hospitalizations increased 278% over the study period (n = 73 in 2016 vs. n = 276 in 2023, p for trend <0.001). Hospitalization rates followed a similar pattern (p for trend <0.001), both per 100,000 admissions (from 1.66 to 5.92) and per 1,000,000 pop. (from 1.57 to 5.71). The highest rates were consistently observed in children aged 0-4 years, reaching 119.04 per 1,000,000 pop. in 2023. Forty-nine children (4.9%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), with significantly higher rates in newborns (19.6%; p < 0.001). Two newborns (4.3%) and 16 (19.0%) adults died during admission (1.6%). Adults had more comorbidities and experienced worse clinical outcomes compared to children.

CONCLUSIONS

SSSS hospitalizations in Spain are rising, primarily affecting young children. Severity varies by age and is most pronounced in infants and adults.