Epidemiology of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 production in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in Denmark between 1959 and 1990.
A total of 436 Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia strains isolated between 1959 and 1990 were tested for the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) by a semiquantitative reversed passive latex agglutination test. TSST-1 production was found in 147/260 (57%) of phage group I strains, excluding the "80" complex, and in 17/176 (10%) of non-group I strains. Strains of the 52, 52A, 80, 81 complex ("80" complex), constituting a subgroup of group I, did not have the same high frequency of TSST-1 production as the rest of group I strains (4% versus 57%). The "80" complex has almost disappeared in Denmark. TSST-1 production was found with the same high frequency among group I strains from the beginning (1959) and throughout the observation period. The TSST-1 production was associated with the phages 29 and/or 52, which in turn lysed 95% of group I strains. The TSST-1 production was quantitatively greater in the phage group I strains than in the non-group I strains. TSST-1 production of the bacteremia strains was not correlated to the clinical parameters: mortality, age, gender, bacterial focus, underlying diseases, or whether the infection was hospital or community acquired.
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Ejlertsen
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Jensen
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Lester
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Rosdahl
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification; D018089:Superantigens
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal