Journal Article

Toxic Shock Syndrome: A Literature Review

Atchade, Enora, Tanaka, Sébastien, De Tymowski, Christian, Grall, Nathalie, Montravers, Philippe

2024

Overview

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare, life-threatening, toxin-mediated infectious process linked, in the vast majority of cases, to toxin-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. The pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, microbiological features, management and outcome of TSS are described in this review. Bacterial superantigenic exotoxins induces unconventional polyclonal lymphocyte activation, which leads to rapid shock, multiple organ failure syndrome, and death. The main described superantigenic exotoxins are toxic shock syndrome toxin—1 (TSST-1) and enterotoxins for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SpE) A, B, and C and streptococcal superantigen A (SsA) for Streptococcus pyogenes. Staphylococcal TSS can be menstrual or nonmenstrual. Streptococcal TSS is linked to a severe group A streptococcal infection and, most frequently, to a necrotizing soft tissue infection. Management of TSS is a medical emergency and relies on early detection, immediate resuscitation, source control and eradication of toxin production, bactericidal antibiotic treatment, and protein synthesis inhibiting antibiotic administration. The interest of polyclonal intravenous immunoglobulin G administration as an adjunctive treatment for TSS requires further evaluation. Scientific literature on TSS mainly consists of observational studies, clinical cases, and in vitro data; although more data on TSS are required, additional studies will be difficult to conduct due to the low incidence of the disease.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Antibiotics / Antigens / Bacteria / Case reports / Ceftaroline / Cell activation / Disease control / Emergency medical services / Enterotoxins / Epidemiology / exotoxin / Exotoxins / Fever / Health aspects / Health services / Hypotension / IgG antibody / Immunoglobulin G / Literature reviews / Lymphocytes / Menstrual products / Menstruation / Methicillin / Observational studies / Protein biosynthesis / Protein synthesis / Septic shock / Soft tissues / staphylococcal enterotoxin / Staphylococcal enterotoxin F / Staphylococcus aureus / Staphylococcus aureus infections / Staphylococcus infections / streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin / Streptococcus infections / Streptococcus pyogenes / Toxic shock syndrome / toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 / Toxins / Vagina