Staphylococcal and streptococcal toxic shock and Kawasaki syndromes

Staphylococcal and streptococcal toxic shock syndromes (TSS) are acute-onset multiorgan illnesses defined by the criteria listed in Tables 18.1 and 18.2. Staphylococcal TSS is caused by Staphylococcus aureus strains that make pyrogenic toxin superantigens (PTSAgs); coagulase-negative strains do not make the causative toxins. Streptococcal TSS is caused mainly by toxin-producing group A strains but occasionally by groups B, C, F, and G strains. Several subsets of staphylococcal TSS exist, with two major categories being menstrual and nonmenstrual.