The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) revised case definition for a confirmed case of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome is all 6 of these criteria:
1. Fever — Temperature ≥ 38.9°C
2. Rash — Diffuse macular erythroderma
3. Desquamation 1–2 weeks after onset of illness (palms and soles)
4. Hypotension — Systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg
5. Multisystem involvement (3 or more systems involved)
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Gastrointestinal: Vomiting or diarrhoea at onset of illness
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Muscular: Severe myalgia or creatine phosphokinase level at least twice the upper limit of normal
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Mucous membrane: Vaginal, oropharyngeal or conjunctival hyperaemia
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Renal: Urea or creatinine at least twice the upper limit of normal
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Hepatic: Total bilirubin, AST, and ALT at least twice the upper limit of normal
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Haematologic: Platelets ≤ 100,000/mm3
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CNS: Disorientation or alterations in consciousness without focal neurologic signs when fever and hypotension are absent. 6. Negative results on the following tests, if obtained:
6. Negative results on the following tests, if obtained:
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Blood, throat, or CSF cultures (blood culture may be positive for Staphylococcus aureus)
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Rise in titre to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, leptospirosis, or rubeola