STAPHYLOCOCCAL TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME IN A PEDIATRIC BURN UNIT

A case of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in a 15-year-old p atient undergoing reconstructive burn surgery is reported. This syndro me, first described in menstruating women using tampons, can also occu r as a postsurgical complication. The epidemiology, microbiology, clin ical presentation and management of non-menstrual TSS are discussed an d correlated with the patient present. We advise caution in the use of occlusive dressings and recommend constant isolation of patients with open wounds colonized with a TSST-1 producing strain of Staph. aureus .