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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B toxic shock syndrome induced by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus

Takeru Kashiwada1, Ken Kikuchi, Shinji Abe

  • 1Internal Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine/Infection and Oncology, Nippon Medical School, Japan. s9024@nms.ac.jp

Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|November 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study details a rare case of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in a teen with pandemic H1N1 influenza and a Staphylococcus aureus infection. Immunological findings confirm staphylococcal enterotoxin B

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a severe, life-threatening condition.
  • The 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza virus emerged globally.
  • Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a significant pathogen.

Observation:

  • A 16-year-old Vietnamese girl presented with symptoms consistent with TSS.
  • The patient had a concurrent infection with pandemic H1N1 influenza and CA-MRSA.
  • Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was detected in the patient's serum.

Findings:

  • Elevated levels of anti-SEB antibodies were observed.
  • Flow cytometry revealed activated SEB-reactive T cells (Vβ3+ and Vβ12+).
  • This is the first report with immunological confirmation of SEB's direct role in TSS.

Implications:

  • CA-MRSA-induced activation of SEB-reactive T cells may precipitate TSS in pH1N1-infected patients.
  • Highlights the potential for co-infections to exacerbate disease severity.
  • Suggests a mechanism for TSS development in influenza patients with bacterial co-infections.

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