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Toxic shock syndrome in scalded children
1Wessex Centre for Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Odstock Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Summary
This study identified toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus in patients with toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Findings suggest TSS may be more common and present with diverse clinical signs and bacterial strains.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Toxicology
Background:
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a severe, potentially fatal condition.
- Early recognition and treatment are crucial due to significant mortality risk.
- Previous understanding of TSS epidemiology and causative agents may be incomplete.
Observation:
- Five patients presented with clinical signs consistent with TSS over a four-month period.
- Toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified in four of these five patients.
- Four distinct phage types producing four different toxins were identified in the TSS cases.
Findings:
- Seven additional patients yielded Staphylococcus aureus from wound swabs but did not develop TSS.
- Three of these non-TSS patients had toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
- The study suggests TSS is potentially more common than previously recognized.
Implications:
- A simplified set of criteria for identifying probable TSS cases is proposed.
- TSS may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations.
- The syndrome may involve various Staphylococcus aureus phage types and multiple enterotoxins.
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