This builds on a previous report in which we showed that a brief, 10-day period (the usual time period for hospitalization for rehabilitation of children with SAM) of topical therapy with SSO resulted in improved skin condition and skin barrier function in children 2 to 24 months of age, and reduction in nosocomial infections (primarily fever) and inflammatory markers (eg, C-reactive protein) in subgroups (by age) of treated children [54]. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is nosocomial infection.