Postoperative staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome due to pre-existing staphylococcal infection: case report and review of the literature.

Staphylococcal postoperative toxic shock syndrome (PTSS) has been associated with a variety of surgical procedures. It is generally believed that the source of infection is acquired at or near the time of surgery. PTSS has been specifically associated with nasal packing, insertion of hardware, surgical drains, retained foreign materials, and breaks in sterile technique. Although PTSS has been associated with postoperative abscesses, development of PTSS after surgery of a pre-existing source of infection has not been described. We report a case of PTSS that developed after vertebral abscess drainage, and we review the literature to determine the incidence of PTSS due to preexisting staphylococcal infection.