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E. coli vs. Staphylococcus aureus: Which one is more likely to cause fatal TSS?
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a disease caused by bacterial toxins, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus. Symptoms include high fever, rash, skin scaling, and low blood pressure, which may even lead to multiple organ failure. Amid warnings about this disease, we can't help but wonder: Which one is more deadly, Staphylococcus aureus or E. coli?
Cause and pathological mechanism
Toxin shock syndrome is often associated with superantigenic toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus. These toxins can cause the body's T cells to overactivate, causing a violent cytokine storm and further triggering multiple organ diseases. It has been reported that in patients infected with Staphylococcus aureus, TSST-1 (toxic shock syndrome toxin-1) is released in large quantities, resulting in non-specific binding to MHC II and T cell receptors, ultimately leading to up to 20% of T cells be activated at the same time.
Research shows that combined treatment: using clindamycin or gentamicin in addition to antibiotics can reduce toxin production and mortality.
Staphylococcus aureus vs E. coli
Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are the main bacteria that cause TSS. According to data, the mortality rate of TSS caused by Staphylococcus aureus is about 5%, compared with 50% for toxic shock syndrome (STSS) caused by Streptococcus. This makes strep infection a risk factor of great concern.
"There is a significant increase in the number of cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in the existing literature, many of which occur in patients with a history of skin infection."
Symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms of TSS vary depending on the bacteria causing the infection. In TSS caused by Staphylococcus aureus, symptoms usually worsen rapidly, manifesting as high fever, hypotension, confusion, etc. STSS caused by Streptococcus will also show similar symptoms in the early stage, but patients often have severe localized symptoms. Skin infection.
Patients usually experience desquamation within 10 to 21 days after the rash appears, which is relatively uncommon in TSS caused by streptococci.
Risk factors and treatments
There are many risk factors that may affect TSS, including use of superabsorbent tampons, recent labor or miscarriage, skin infections, and open wounds. Given these risks, rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial. Treatment of TSS usually requires hospitalization and requires a combination of intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and possibly surgical drainage.
Prognosis and complications
With the right treatment, most patients can expect to recover within 2 to 3 weeks. However, if not treated promptly, TSS can lead to death within hours. The mortality rate is as high as 70% and may be increased by complications such as liver and kidney failure, heart disease, and breathing difficulties.
“Due to the seriousness of TSS, it is particularly important to strengthen publicity and preventive measures in women’s health.”
Prevention and Epidemiology
During hygiene, it is recommended to use sanitary napkins instead of tampons and maintain good hygiene habits. Additionally, monitoring the healing of open wounds is an important preventive measure. It is worth noting that TSS does not only occur during menstruation. Many cases are caused by skin wounds, surgeries, etc.
Conclusion
As for the risk of TSS, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus each have their own seriousness. On the one hand we see that cases of Staphylococcus aureus are relatively rare, whereas streptococcal infections show a higher mortality rate. So, faced with a health challenge like this, are we taking enough precautions to address the potential risks?
