The staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome: You think, you treat!

Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is a multi-visceral failure syndrome that has been known for 40 years in its classical menstrual form, but too often underestimated in non-menstrual presentations, which are the most common and severe forms. Its morbi-mortality is related to therapeutic delays, highlighting the importance of its rapid recognition in order to optimise patients' management by intensive care anaesthesists. Yet STSS's etiological treatment is simple, based on an anti-toxin antibiotic treatment. We reported a series of cases showing that clinicians' experiences and early treatment of the STSS have a direct impact on time to resolution. We detailed STSS's specific clinical presentation and discussed the contributing factors and current diagnostic means.