Managing toxic shock syndrome with antibiotics

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004 Aug;5(8):1701-10. doi: 10.1517/14656566.5.8.1701.

Abstract

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious disorder with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 3/100,000 persons. TSS is mainly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, beta-lactam and lincosamides, such as clindamycin, are the first-line drugs. Yet, the mortality rate remains unacceptably high; highlighting the role of bacterial toxin-mediated activation of the inflammatory cascade in TSS pathogenesis. Further strategies should be targeted towards interfering with the interaction between bacterial toxins and host T cells. This paper aims to provide an overview of the epidemiology, pathomechanisms, and clinical presentation of TSS, and criteria for selecting drugs among available antibiotics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Shock, Septic / drug therapy*
  • Shock, Septic / epidemiology
  • Shock, Septic / microbiology
  • Shock, Septic / physiopathology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / physiopathology
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections / physiopathology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents