Toxic Shock Syndrome: Rare but Deadly

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 9; p. e69220
• Main Authors: Mendes, Jorge, Santos, Miguel G, Costa, Simone, Pinto, Luísa, Henriques, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus 11.09.2024
• Subjects: Emergency Medicine; General Surgery; Infectious Disease; toxic shock; streptococcus pyogenes; hyperbaric oxygen; group a streptococcus; emergency medicine; necrotizing fasciitis
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.69220

Invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease, although rare, has a high mortality and morbidity rate, making early recognition and treatment crucial. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and necrotizing fasciitis are the most feared complications and require comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment. In addition to appropriate support and resuscitation, patient management should include empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy covering gram-negative bacteria, methicillin-resistant (MRSA), and anti-toxin therapy. Early surgical debridement is essential for improving the patient's prognosis, and other treatments, such as immunoglobulin and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), also appear to be important. The authors describe the clinical case of a 31-year-old man with no medical history or risk factors, who developed invasive disease from with rapid progression to necrotizing fasciitis, TSS, and severe multi-organ dysfunction. His management required intensive care, multiple surgical debridements, admission to the intensive care unit, and targeted as well as supportive therapy. The patient survived, but nearly a year later, he has yet to fully return to a normal life.