Original Articles
Toxic Shock-like Syndrome with Flu-like Prodrome: aPossible Role of 'Enhancing Tissue Focus' forStreptococcal Toxic Shock

https://doi.org/10.1053/jinf.2001.0820Get rights and content

Abstract

We describe three patients with invasive group A streptococcal infection, admitted during the 3 months between November 1996 and February 1997. All patients were previously healthy Japanese women who developed a profound shock, with a rapidly fatal outcome, after experiencing flu-like symptoms. All cases conformed to the case definition of toxic shock-like syndrome (TSLS).

Currently, the pathogenic mechanism of TSLS remains unclear. Known microbial virulence factors can not sufficiently explain the occurrence of TSLS, and it has been generally considered that host factors may be contributory. On pathological examination, each patient had one organ or tissue that was most severely involved: Case 1 a non-penetrating trauma; Case 2 a pregnant uterus; and Case 3 a pulmonary lesion reminiscent of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. On the basis of clinicopathological features of these cases, we propose that the coexistence of 'enhancing tissue focus' may be one of host factors for the progression of TSLS in patients infected with non-invasive GAS.

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  • Cited by (11)

    • Invasive group A streptococcal infection in pregnancy

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      Citation Excerpt :

      Three cases6,7 were excluded from the present analysis as isolation of GAS was not clearly stated in these 3 case reports. Thus, a total of 55 cases (Table 3)8–52 were analyzed in this study. Of these, 49 cases fulfilled the criteria for streptococcal TSS shown in Table 1, and the remaining 6 cases (Cases 13, 17, 19 and 47–49) were classified as “other invasive GAS infection” according to the criteria shown in Table 2.

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    Please address all correspondence to: Y. Hirose, Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Niigata City General Hospital, 2-6-1 Shichikuyama, Niigata City 950-8739, Japan.

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