Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1-producing Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia and Exanthematous and Purpuric Disease with Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis in an Infant

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus exotoxin toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) can cause a wide spectrum of immunopathological conditions, from toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a life-threatening illness, to neonatal TSS-like exanthematous disease (NTED), a self-limited mild disease. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which develops in the skin, is another immunopathological condition that is commonly observed in patients with IgA vasculitis during childhood. We report the case of an infant with an NTED-like exanthematous rash and IgA vasculitis-like purpuric skin lesions that were histopathologically diagnosed as leukocytoclastic vasculitis. A blood culture yielded methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus producing TSST-1, suggesting an etiological role in the aforementioned skin lesions. (99 words)