title: Toxic shock syndrome after laminaria insertion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laminaria tents used to facilitate surgical abortion are rarely associated with significant infectious morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A parous woman in midpregnancy had laminaria placed in her cervix followed by a second set after 24 hours. Eight hours later, she presented with dyspnea, hives, fever, tachycardia, and hypotension. Antibiotic treatment was initiated and a dilation and evacuation procedure was performed. Amniotic membrane cultures showed a heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus with staphylococcal enterotoxin C expression, compatible with toxic shock syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laminaria cervical dilation might be associated with toxic shock syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. obggs@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sutkin
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Capelle
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Schlievert
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Creinin
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007795:Laminaria; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors