How Can a Man Get Toxic Shock Syndrome?

Video Transcript

"Hi I'm Dr. Mieke Lane, I am an OB/GYN with Cascadia Women's Clinic in Vancouver, Washington. Today I'm going to talk to you regarding toxic shock syndrome, and how a man can be effected with this particular syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome is a bacterial infection. The bacteria trigger the release of toxins within your body, and these toxins then can go on to cause various medical problems. Toxic shock syndrome can effect men, women and children. Typically toxic shock syndrome is caused by the prolong use of a tampon, leaving it in for more than four hours at a time. Leaving in a diaphragm longer than what is prescribed by your healthcare provider. But when we talk about men and children they usually are effected via a contaminated surgical wound, a contaminated cut, burn, abscess, or laceration. When we have any type of laceration or a wound we need to be sure that those wounds are kept clean, we need to be sure that we have good handwashing practices after we clean those wounds, and if we suspect that we developed any signs of toxic shock syndrome then you need to be speaking with your healthcare provider."