Studies on staphylococci from toxic shock syndrome in France, 1981–1983

Staphylococci from 22 cases of toxic shock syndrome with onsets between 1981 and March 1983 have been studied. Another four cases were detected by abstract surveillance. Three of these patients died. The case histories show that the syndrome occurs in women during menstruation as well as in males and in children, and is associated with Staphylococcus aureus infections. The production of enterotoxins (A, B, C) and toxic shock toxin by S. aureus isolates from toxic shock syndrome was investigated. Twenty-two of the 23 isolates were found to be toxigenic: 7 produced enterotoxin A, 8 produced enterotoxin B, 3 produced enterotoxin C and 13 produced toxic shock toxin. The latter was found with enterotoxin A in five cases, and with enterotoxins A and B in only one case. Sixty-three percent of 46 S. aureus strains isolated from the vagina of patients with diseases other than toxic shock syndrome produced toxin; eight of these strains produced toxic shock toxin.