Serological Response to Toxic Shock syndrome Toxin in Staphylococcus Aureus Infected Pathients and Healthy Controls

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Abstract
The prevalence of antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) in a Swedish healthy control population was investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the control group 10 yr old, 88% showed positive antibody levels as compared to 31% of those who were < 10 yr old. These results indicate a very common normal exposure to TSST-1 during early life and also identify the small risk-group of potential TSS-patients. Patients with S. aureus endocarditis and septicemia showed slightly higher antibody levels as compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The difference was in part due to 3/4 septicemia patients, infected with TSST-1 producing strains, who showed very high antibody levels. None of these 4 patients developed any signs of TSS. Of menstrual associated TSS-patients, 5/5 were negative in the ELISA in serial serum samples as were 3/5 non-menstrual associated TSS-patients. The TSST-1 ELISA is proposed for identifying chiefly young women at risk of acquiring menstrual related TSS.