Postinfluenza toxic shock syndrome.

Postinfluenza toxic shock syndrome is a recently described entity that results from a respiratory tract infection with toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus following an episode of influenza or influenzalike illness. This report describes a 19-year-old man who developed an influenza B respiratory infection complicated by staphylococcal pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. The patient improved rapidly with specific antibiotic therapy, emphasizing the importance of considering this otherwise highly lethal syndrome in any individual who becomes critically ill after an initial influenzalike illness.