[Toxic shock. Presentation of an obstetrical case]

The case of a 22 years old patient, primigravida, who underwent cesarean for acute fetal distress, and who presented with, at the second day of puerperium, puerperal infection, with clinical picture of shock at the third day, is presented. The clinical picture was preceded by skin rash which became a pyoderma, and ended up as desquamation; there were several alterations: hepatic, renal, hematological (disseminated intravascular coagulation) and digestive (gastroenteritis); and Staphylococcus aureus (coagulase positive) was isolated from the skin, lochia, coproculture; and they were negative to this microorganism the ones from blood, urine and pharynx. The patient received general care for her shock, steroids, blood and fresh plasma and antimicrobial agents (dicloxacillin, cefoperazone and netilmicin). Evolution was favourable, and was discharged at the eleventh day of puerperium in good conditions. A brief summary of the bibliography about this condition, and its very low incidence in our country, is pointed out, as this report is the second one in Latin American literature.