Primary staphylococcal infection and toxic shock syndrome diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction

Primary staphylococcal pneumonia complicated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS ) is relatively uncommon in children. Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins are t hought to function as superantigens, and seem to promote disease manifestat ions. The identification of staphylococcal toxin genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offers a specific and rapid diagnostic method for TSS. We de scribe a 7-year-old child with TSS resulting from staphylococcal pneumonia. S. aureus enterotoxins A and B were detected in the sputum of this patient by PCR.