Toxic shock syndrome: a review

TSS is a recently described acute febrile illness characterized by hypotension, rash, desquamation, and multisystemic involvement. While most common in menstruating women, TSS also occurs in men and non-menstruating women. It is now known that the disease is caused by one or more toxins produced by the S aureus organism. Treatment of TSS consists primarily of fluid resuscitation and supportive care. Anti-staphylococcal antibiotics are indicated primarily to reduce the rate of recurrence in menstrually related cases. In wound-related TSS, antibiotics are necessary to treat the primary wound infection and to prevent recurrent disease. Currently, the case fatality rate is stable at less than 3% and the major long-term complication of survivors is the risk of recurrence.