Travel-related Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by emm type 78 Streptococcus pyogenes.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a serious health problem in developed and developing countries. We here report a case of severe protracted disease after a minor skin infection in a young traveler returning from West Malaysia which was caused by an unusual emm-type strain harboring speG and smeZ superantigen genes.