Toxic shock syndrome

Abstract
Toxic shock syndrome gained great notoriety in the medical and lay literature in 1980 when the association of menses, tampons, and disease was recognized. Withdrawal of certain high-absorbency tampons from the market may have decreased the incidence of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. However, the 300 cases reported in 1984 probably represent only a fraction of the number that actually occurred. In recent years, almost one case in three has been nonmenstrual, caused by Staphylococcus aureus infections at other sites.