title: Managing toxic shock syndrome with antibiotics.
abstract: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious disorder with a worldwide prevalence of approximately 3/100,000 persons. TSS is mainly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, beta-lactam and lincosamides, such as clindamycin, are the first-line drugs. Yet, the mortality rate remains unacceptably high; highlighting the role of bacterial toxin-mediated activation of the inflammatory cascade in TSS pathogenesis. Further strategies should be targeted towards interfering with the interaction between bacterial toxins and host T cells. This paper aims to provide an overview of the epidemiology, pathomechanisms, and clinical presentation of TSS, and criteria for selecting drugs among available antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit Raymond Poincaré University Hospital, AP-HP, School of Medicine Paris Ile de France Ouest, University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, 104 Boulevard Raymond Poincaré, 92380 Garches, France. djillali.annane@rpc.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Djillali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Annane
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clair
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salomon
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents