TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME

Course overview

TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME (TSS) IS AN ACUTE-ONSET ILLNESS CHARACTERIZED BY FEVER, HYPOTENSION, SUNBURN-LIKE RASH, AND END-ORGAN DAMAGE. TSS WAS CLASSICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH ABSORBENCY TAMPON USE IN MENSTRUATING WOMEN UNTIL EVENTUALLY, THESE WERE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS BECOME IMPORTANT TO ALSO CONSIDER NON-MENSTRUAL CASES. THE INCIDENCE OF TSS IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 0.8 TO 3.4 PER 100,000 IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME AND DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING THIS CONDITION.