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Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome: Mechanisms and Management

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Abstract

Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome is a rare complication of Staphylococcus aureus infection in which bacterial toxins act as superantigens, activating very large numbers of T cells and generating an overwhelming immune-mediated cytokine avalanche that manifests clinically as fever, rash, shock, and rapidly progressive multiple organ failure, often in young, previously healthy patients. The syndrome can occur with any site of S. aureus infection, and so clinicians of all medical specialties should have a firm grasp of the presentation and management. In this article, we review the literature on the pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment of this serious condition with emphasis on recent insights into pathophysiology and on information of relevance to the practicing clinician.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Regional Intensive Care Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK

    Jonathan A. Silversides

  2. Specialist Registrar in Anaesthesia, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB, UK

    Emma Lappin

  3. Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia, Craigavon Area Hospital, 68 Lurgan Road, Portadown, BT63 5QQ, UK

    Andrew J. Ferguson

Authors
  1. Jonathan A. Silversides
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  2. Emma Lappin
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  3. Andrew J. Ferguson
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Correspondence to Andrew J. Ferguson.

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Silversides, J.A., Lappin, E. & Ferguson, A.J. Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome: Mechanisms and Management. Curr Infect Dis Rep 12, 392–400 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-010-0119-y

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