<prompt> Scalded skin syndrome is caused by?StaphylococciPneumococciStreptococciMeningococci  <response>: Ans. a Staphylococci. Ref. Textbook of Microbiology by Anantanar ay an 6th183STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUSINTRODUCTION Coagulase positive Ferments mannitol Produces b-hemolysis Produces golden yellow pigment Liquifies gelatin Produces phosphatase Catalase and DNAase positive In K tellurite medium it produces black colonies Phage typing is extremely important in epidemiological study of staphylococcus.Antigenic structures Capsular ags, peptidoglycan, protein A, clump factor, etc.Toxins hemolysin, P-leucocidins, enterotoxin, exfoliative toxin exotoxin.Pathology Food poisoning - enterotoxin A Toxic shock syndrome - enterotoxin F, TSS toxin, Type C pyrogenic exotoxin Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome - exfoliative toxin Recurrent staphylococcal infection furuncle, boils, abscess, impetigo, pemphigus neonatorum, pneumonia with pneumatocele, osteomyelitis. 