Primary staphylococcal infection and toxic shock syndrome diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction.

Primary staphylococcal pneumonia complicated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is relatively uncommon in children. Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins are thought to function as superantigens, and seem to promote disease manifestations. The identification of staphylococcal toxin genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offers a specific and rapid diagnostic method for TSS. We describe a 7-year-old child with TSS resulting from staphylococcal pneumonia. S. aureus enterotoxins A and B were detected in the sputum of this patient by PCR.