British Association of Dermatologists national clinical audit on the management of Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis in adults

Abstract

Abstract Background UK guidelines for managing adults with Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), published by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) in 2016, outline a set of audit standards. Objectives To audit current management of SJS/TEN in adults against standards in the BAD guidelines. Methods BAD members were invited to submit data on five consecutive adults with SJS/TEN per department over an 8-week period in 2022. Results Thirty-nine dermatology centres in the UK (29%) participated, and data for 147 adults with SJS/TEN were collected. Within 24 h of the diagnosis being made or suspected, the following were documented, per 147 submitted cases: Severity-of-Illness Score for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SCORTEN) for 76 (52%), list of medications for 113 (77%) and timelines for commencement/alterations of medications for 104 (71%). The initial assessment was documented of the eyes by an ophthalmologist in 71 (48%), of the mouth in 130 (88%), of the genital skin in 103 (70%) and of the urinary tract in 93 (63%). During the first 10 days after a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of SJS/TEN, daily assessments of the mouth were documented in 26 of 147 cases (18%), of the eyes in 12 (8%), and of the urinary tract and genital skin in 14 (10%). At discharge, a drug was declared to be the cause of SJS/TEN for 130 of 147 cases (88%), while 9 (6%) were thought to be secondary to infection. Eleven of 147 (8%) had no response to this question. Documentation regarding advice was present on avoidance of the culprit drug in 76 of 130 declared SJS/TEN cases (58%), and on requesting a MedicAlert® bracelet/amulet in 9 of the 147 cases (6%). Conclusions This audit suggests that a clinical review checklist might be needed to enable colleagues to maintain standards outlined in the guidelines, including documentation of SCORTEN, daily assessments of mucosal areas, and advice to avoid culprit drug(s) and to request a MedicAlert® bracelet/amulet.