There are two important goals in the treatment of toxic shock syndrome (TSS): fighting the infection and supporting any functions of the body that have been affected.
You will need to be admitted to hospital straight away and may need to be treated in an intensive care unit.
Most people will respond to treatment within a couple of days, but it may take several weeks before they are well enough to leave hospital.
Treating infection
The infection can normally be treated by a combination of antibiotics, which are given directly into the bloodstream via a drip (intravenously).
In some cases, immunoglobulin may also be given as well as antibiotics. Immunoglobulin is a sample of donated human blood known to contain a high level of antibodies, which can be used to fight the toxins produced by the bacteria.
Life support
Oxygen is given to support breathing. Fluids are administered to raise blood pressure. They also help to prevent dehydration and organ damage.
Dialysis
If the kidneys stop functioning, a dialysis machine is used to filter the blood. For more information, see the Health A-Z topic about dialysis.
Cleaning infected tissue
If the toxins have damaged parts of the skin, or other extremities of the body such as the fingers or toes, the infected tissue will need to be drained and cleaned. In very severe cases, it may be necessary to surgically remove parts of the skin or amputate (remove by surgery) an extremity of the body.
