Toxic shock syndrome with Staphylococcus aureus exit-site infection in a patient on peritoneal dialysis

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) associated with exit-site infection but without peritonitis has not been described. We report a case of TSS with an isolated Staphylococcus aureus exit-site infection in a boy on chronic peritoneal dialysis. The exit site had minimal erythema and no purulence. This report re-emphasizes the fact that mildly appearing cutaneous infections in patients with chronic renal failure may have significant consequences. Particular attention should be given to patients who present with constitutional symptoms that may be of short duration. The importance of culturing all sites in such cases is highlighted. The prevalence of TSS with exit-site infections is unknown, but TSS should be considered in patients presenting with similar features.