A Case of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS)

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a rare and fatal bacterial infection highly associated with tampon use during menstruation. This article describes a 23-year-old female who delayed seeking care after presenting with nonspecific clinical features of headache, fever, chills, and sore throat. Four days after initial onset, the patient presented with hypotension, and was diagnosed with toxic shock caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. This delay in diagnosis and care led to a lengthy 14-day hospital stay complicated by severe refractory hypotension, mucositis, desquamation, and suprapubic abscess formations. This article highlights important points in presentation and management of a complicated case with an unclear infection source