infections
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Treatment of Toxic Shock Syndrome
Fluids given intravenously Often medications to increase blood pressure Cleaning of the infected area (vagina or wound) and removing infected tissue Antibiotics If toxic shock syndrome is suspected, people are hospitalized, usually in an Types of units . Fluids that contain salts and often medications to increase blood pressure to normal levels are given intravenously. Many people need help with breathing, usually with a . Tampons, diaphragms, and other foreign objects are removed from the vagina promptly. Antibiotics and, for severe cases, immune globulin (which can neutralize the toxin) are given intravenously. Immune globulin contains antibodies obtained from the blood of people with a normal immune system. Antibiotics are started immediately, before the bacteria are identified. Once the bacteria are identified, antibiotics are adjusted as needed. Areas that could contain the bacteria, such as surgical wounds and the vagina, are flushed out with water (irrigated). If wounds are infected, surgery may be needed to clean them out further, to remove infected tissue, or sometimes, if gangrene has developed, to remove a limb. 