[Toxic-shock syndrome. Three cases (author's transl)]

Several cases of toxic shock syndrome (T.S.S) have been recently reported from the U.S.A. Clinical features of this new syndrome include fever, desquamative scarlatiniform rash, hypotension and involvement of central nervous system, liver, kidney and muscles. More than 90% of cases are women with staphylococcic vaginitis using tampons during menstruations. A toxin produced by staphylococcus aureus is thought to be the causative agent, because the germ has been isolated in local (vaginal, pharyngeal, subcutaneous or other sites) but not systemic (blood, cerebrospinal fluid) cultures. The mortality rate is 3-10%, and relapse can occur. We report the first three french cases of T.S.S.: a 17 year old girl with typical tampon-associated vaginitis, a 36 year old woman with a postoperative peritonitis and a 20 year old man with a popliteal abscess. Staphylococcus aureus of type I or IV was identified at the site of infection in all cases, but never in blood cultures. These three patients recovered with antistaphylococcic antibiotics and supportive therapy, but local treatment of infections seems to have been of utmost importance. These cases suggest that T.S.S. can occur with several staphylococcus serotypes and confirm that this syndrome is not always associated with tampons and vaginitis.