The human immunodeficiency virus and nonmenstrual toxic shock syndrome: a female case presentation

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) generally is associated with tampon use among menstruating women. Descriptions from the early 1980's detailed this sudden, multisystem, frequently fatal disease. The bacterial agent, Staphylococcus aureus produced exotoxins, which were quickly identified as the cause of TSS as well as a host of other systemic, bacterial infections. While S. aureus has become one of the more common bacterial pathogens in patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), staphylococcal toxin-related disorders rarely have been reported in individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or individuals diagnosed with AIDS. To date all published cases of TSS attendant with HIV involved homosexual, hemophiliac, or drug injecting male patients. This report describes a woman infected with HIV and diagnosed with the classic array of symptoms found in toxic-shock syndrome, and provides information specific to women and their experience with HIV infection.