Recent trends in the incidence of toxic shock syndrome in northern California.

The incidence of toxic shock syndrome in women members of a large prepaid medical care program in Northern California was 1.5 cases per 100,000 in a period after removal of tampons containing polyacrylate rayon and reductions in tampon absorbency. This rate was lower, but not significantly lower, than the rate of 2.2 per 100,000 in the prior interval. It was higher, but not significantly higher, than the rate of 0.4 per 100,000 in the era before "superabsorbent" materials were introduced into tampons. The incidence in men has been stable at about 0.1 cases per 100,000 for the 15-year period from 1972 though 1987.