Toxic shock syndrome

Infections, Sudden illness and injury, Affects many body systems. Also called: TSS.

How common is Toxic shock syndrome in the US?

Estimated national cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) meeting the CSTE clinical case-definition criteria (STSS-CSTE), extrapolated from CDC's Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) proportions applied to national invasive group A Streptococcus incidence estimates: 3618 cases (Estimated national STSS-CSTE cases occurring in the United States in 2017 (modeled national estimate, not a direct census count); United States (national estimate derived from CDC's Active Bacterial Core surveillance in 10 states), 2017 (national estimate); underlying ABCs surveillance data span 2014-2017). Source: Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974) (CDC), 2021. Label: MODELED.

• 3618 cases Estimated national cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) meeting the CSTE clinical case-definition criteria (STSS-CSTE), extrapolated from CDC's Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) proportions applied to national invasive group A Streptococcus incidence estimates. Out of: Estimated national STSS-CSTE cases occurring in the United States in 2017 (modeled national estimate, not a direct census count). Where: United States (national estimate derived from CDC's Active Bacterial Core surveillance in 10 states). When: 2017 (national estimate); underlying ABCs surveillance data span 2014-2017. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) specifically, a related but etiologically distinct condition from staphylococcal/menstrual toxic shock syndrome; figure is a national estimate extrapolated from 10-state ABCs surveillance proportions applied to national invasive GAS estimates, not a direct national count. Label: MODELED.

  Using ABCs data, we estimated 591 cases of STSS-physician and 3618 cases of STSS-CSTE occurred nationally in 2017.

  Source: Challenges in Surveillance for Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome: Active Bacterial Core Surveillance, United States, 2014-2017. Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974) (CDC), 2021. PubMed 33960856. DOI 10.1177/00333549211013460.

Each figure measures something different. Do not compare them with each other or with other conditions.

Medical codes

• ICD-10-CM FY2026: A48.3 Toxic shock syndrome (exact)

Research activity

As of 2026-09-24: 23 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (search Toxic Shock Syndrome) and 661 PubMed records, 2021 to 2025. A count of records is not how common or serious the condition is.

Population information, not medical advice. Methodology · Known limitations