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Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome


Other Names:
Bacterial toxic-shock syndrome
The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 36234

Definition
Bacterial toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a potentially fatal, acute disease characterized by a sudden onset of high fever along with nausea, myalgia, vomiting and multisystem organ involvement, potentially leading to shock and death. TSS is mediated by superantigenic toxins, usually caused by an infection with Staphylococcus aureus in staphylococcal TSS (see this term) or Streptococcus pyogenes in streptococcal TSS (see this term).

Epidemiology
The worldwide prevalence is estimated at 1/30, 000.

Clinical description
The disease affects mainly young adult women with no previous medical conditions. However, non-menstrual TSS, which can also be observed in men and children, represents up to 50% of Staphylococcal TSS cases. Onset is sudden and includes high fever (>38.9°C), nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, myalgia, abdominal pain and sore throat. Staphylococcal TSS almost always exhibits an erythematous rash and skin peeling as one of its manifestations, whereas it is very rarely seen in streptococcal TSS, which can show signs of soft tissue infection. Serious manifestations include confusion, shock, renal and myocardial dysfunction, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; see this term) and coma.

Etiology
Staphylococcal TSS is due to an infection with Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcal TSS is due to an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes, or rarely, group C or G Streptococcus. Superantigens produced by both bacteria are responsible for the massive and sudden immune reaction seen in TSS. Both forms have been associated with recent traumas (surgery or childbirth) and viral infections, while staphylococcal TSS has also been associated with high absorbency tampon use.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 11/1/2015

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

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