Toxic shock syndrome: major advances in pathogenesis, but not treatment
DE Low - Critical care clinics, 2013 - criticalcare.theclinics.com
Background Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) are
gram-positive pathogens capable of producing a variety of bacterial exotoxins, including a
family of toxins known as superantigens (SAgs). SAgs interact with antigen-presenting cells
(APCs) and T cells to induce T-cell proliferation and massive cytokine production, which
leads to fever, rash, capillary leak, and subsequent hypotension, the major symptoms of
toxic shock syndrome (TSS)(Fig. 1).
gram-positive pathogens capable of producing a variety of bacterial exotoxins, including a
family of toxins known as superantigens (SAgs). SAgs interact with antigen-presenting cells
(APCs) and T cells to induce T-cell proliferation and massive cytokine production, which
leads to fever, rash, capillary leak, and subsequent hypotension, the major symptoms of
toxic shock syndrome (TSS)(Fig. 1).