To build a better mousetrap: pitfalls on the path to improving tampon safety.

摘要

It has been about 30 years since toxic shock syndrome (TSS) was first described as a distinct clinical entity [1]. The cause of TSS was found to be infection or colonization with Staphylococcus aureus [2], and menstruating women using tampons were shown to be at increased risk of developing the disease [3]. It was subsequently demonstrated that TSS-associated strains of S. aureus produce a unique toxin closely related to the streptococcal exo-toxins and staphylococcal enterotoxins that was ultimately termed toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) [4, 5]. TSS remains a reportable disease and a significant problem-hundreds of cases are reported in the United States each year [6], which undoubtedly represent just a small percentage of actual cases because of un-derrecognition and underreporting.