Identification of Prodromal Clinical Signs of Menstrual Staphylococcal Toxic Shock

Menstrual staphylococcal toxic shock is a rare but severe disease, requiring intensive care in over 80% of cases. Menstrual staphylococcal toxic shock develops during the peri-menstrual period, in healthy young women colonized by a vaginal strain of Staphylococcus aureus secreting the Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) and not immune to it, in a favorable environment, i.e. wearing intravaginal menstrual protection (tampon, menstrual cup).

The rarity of the syndrome, its polymorphous clinical presentation and the absence of a totally specific biological examination make menstrual staphylococcal toxic shock a difficult pathology to diagnose. The reference clinical criteria correspond to the advanced picture of multivisceral failure, making it possible to classify cases a posteriori, but contribute to diagnostic delay and lack sensitivity.

Patient accounts suggest the presence of symptoms in the days preceding the development of toxic shock, and also during previous menstrual cycles.

The identification of prodromal symptoms could enable earlier management of menstrual staphylococcal toxic shock by removal of intra-vaginal sanitary protection, the main risk factor, before the disease becomes permanently established and requires intensive care.