AN ANIMAL MODEL FOR STAPHYLOCOCCAL TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS

Summary.— Three strains of phage type "71" coagulase-positive staphylococci, 2 from cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis (T.E.N.) and 1 from a case of impetigo, produced a response clinically and histologically similar to human staphylococcal T.E.N. after subcutaneous injection into 3-day-old mice. The experimental lesion progressed from the development of erythema and a positive Nikolsky sign to generalized peeling of the superficial skin and death. The response in mice was shown to be dependent both on the dose of organisms and on the age of the mice. The significance of this mouse model in relation to human staphylococcal T.E.N. is discussed.