Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome
PATHOGENS
- Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A, GAS)
- S. pyogenes produces exotoxins SPEA, SPEB, and SPEC.
- These toxins are superantigens capable of activating up to 25% of T cells. Aspects of therapy are selected to stop toxin production.
- Exotoxins precipitate a cytokine storm that can lead to profound hypotension and multiorgan failure.
- S. pyogenes produces exotoxins SPEA, SPEB, and SPEC.
- Other Streptococcus species (described)
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Last updated: August 9, 2024
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G, and Joel N Blankson. "Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2024. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540522/1/Streptococcal_Toxic_Shock_Syndrome.
Auwaerter PG, Blankson JN. Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2024. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540522/1/Streptococcal_Toxic_Shock_Syndrome. Accessed November 3, 2025.
Auwaerter, P. G., & Blankson, J. N. (2024). Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540522/1/Streptococcal_Toxic_Shock_Syndrome
Auwaerter PG, Blankson JN. Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2024. [cited 2025 November 03]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540522/1/Streptococcal_Toxic_Shock_Syndrome.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome
ID - 540522
A1 - Auwaerter,Paul,M.D.
AU - Blankson,Joel,M.D., Ph.D.
Y1 - 2024/08/09/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540522/1/Streptococcal_Toxic_Shock_Syndrome
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
