Case of the Month #33 Toxic Shock Syndrome

Published 12/08/2022

How is TSS diagnosed?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) revised case definition for a confirmed case of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome is all 6 of these criteria: 

1. Fever — Temperature ≥ 38.9°C  

2. Rash — Diffuse macular erythroderma 

3. Desquamation 1–2 weeks after onset of illness (palms and soles) 

4. Hypotension — Systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg  

5. Multisystem involvement (3 or more systems involved) 

  • Gastrointestinal: Vomiting or diarrhoea at onset of illness 

  • Muscular: Severe myalgia or creatine phosphokinase level at least twice the upper limit of normal 

  • Mucous membrane: Vaginal, oropharyngeal or conjunctival hyperaemia 

  • Renal: Urea or creatinine at least twice the upper limit of normal 

  • Hepatic: Total bilirubin, AST, and ALT at least twice the upper limit of normal 

  • Haematologic: Platelets ≤ 100,000/mm3 

  • CNS: Disorientation or alterations in consciousness without focal neurologic signs when fever and hypotension are absent. 6. Negative results on the following tests, if obtained: 

6. Negative results on the following tests, if obtained:

  • Blood, throat, or CSF cultures (blood culture may be positive for Staphylococcus aureus) 

  • Rise in titre to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, leptospirosis, or rubeola