Toxic shock syndrome caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus that produces enterotoxin C but not toxic shock syndrome toxin-1
M. F. Rizkallah, A. Tolaymat, J. S. Martinez, P. M. Schlievert and E. M. Ayoub
Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
An 8-month-old infant presented with pneumonia and pleural effusion
associated with clinical manifestation of toxic shock syndrome. A
Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated from the pleural fluid produced
enterotoxin C, but not toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 or other enterotoxins.
Acute and convalescent sera showed an antibody rise to enterotoxin C but
not to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. These findings support the possibility
that enterotoxin C was the primary toxin associated with this infant's
illness.
