[Toxic shock syndrome. Current knowledge on its clinical aspects, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy]

Toxic-shock syndrome caused by toxins of staphylococcus aureus, is characterized by acute onset of high fever, hypotony, diffuse or palmar-plantar exanthem followed by skin desquamation and multisystem involvement. The disease is mostly associated with the use of intravaginal tampons by menstruating women, but has also been observed not with menstruation and may also occur in males. The clinical diagnosis is confirmed by cultural demonstration of staphylococcus aureus in samples of localized infections with this agent. beta-lactamase-resistant antibiotics are the remedy of choice for chemotherapy.