Abstract
An elderly man with Hodgkin''s disease who was receiving multiple drug chemotherapy became septic and a widespread bullous eruption developed. Intraepidermal cleavage on skin biopsy supported a diagnosis of the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) type of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Blood cultures confirmed a staphylococcal septicemia. Occurrence of this syndrome in an adult is unusual. An increased mortality due to SSSS is indicated when adults are compared with children with this syndrome.