What Causes Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)?

TSS is caused by the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus which normally live harmlessly on the human skin, in the nose, groin, armpit or vagina. In rare cases, certain strains of these bacteria can produce toxins that cause TSS.

Half the reported cases of TSS are linked to tampon usage, while the other half are associated with localized infections where the broken skin is exposed to potentially harmful bacteria.

Hyper-absorbent tampons may increase the risk of infection because their prolonged intra-vaginal use encourages bacteria growth.