is there a test for the Toxic Shock Syndrome bacteria?

Question

Apparently some of us have this bacteria living on us and it usually cases no problems. But in some it can multiply or enter wounds to give you the potentially fatal TSS.

(" It can be caused by one of two different types of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes ")

I know/don't care how rare it is so please don't reply telling me that. I just want to find out if I have the bacteria so I can make an informed decision on something.

Maybe some sort of swab?? By the way I mean testing under regular circumstances, not when you think you're infected/ill from it.

Thanks. I don't "need" to know from a medical point of view, that's why I added that I don't think i'm infected.

Well, I am considering using those menstrual cup things and need this information to help me decide. But if I said that in the first place most people would just bang on about how rare tss is and that i'm being paranoid.
There have been no studies done on whether the cups could cause TSS. Supposedly no cases have been "associated" with cups. But if you have half a brain you can figure out why that isn't good enough.

I know that tampons and sponges increase the risk, but they are fiberous etc. However I know diapragms can too, so I would assume that the cups would be similar?
I know of one statistic that says cups supposedly multiplied the bacteria more than pads but less than tampons.
I was hoping getting tested would be one way of determining how risky it would be.

There are also other reasons but I don't want to post them lol...

Answer 1

The bacteria involved with TSS is staphylococcus aureus, this is present in one in ten people, theoretically swabs can be taken to identify if you have this bacteria present but if it is not detected it does not mean you never will have this bacteria present in your body as these are normal flora in the human body and can be passed from person to person. The bacteria is not the problem, it is the factors that cause this bacteria to produce toxins that lead to the disease that are the problem – there is no definite known cause, but tampons are one of the top contributors to TSS outbreaks.


As to your additional comments.

TSS is far from the only risk associated with tampons, manufacturers of commercial tampons willingly risk women's health and tampons are the only options to have cause fatalities. Menstrual cups have been around as long as commercial tampons yet have never been associated with TSS or any other health problem, nor have they caused a single fatality. Compare medical grade silicone that is hygienic and can be sterilised to fleece or cotton being left within the body, in fact looking at it purely from a logical stand point you are more likely to contract TSS from use of commercial pads than menstrual cups.

Testing on menstrual cups potential link to TSS may be lacking, but the evidence for TSS risk from tampons is so notorious that TSS is the first thing that comes to mind for many when tampons are mentioned. There is serious research lacking in tampon risks because manufacturers do have a lot of power, yes to a large degree more than government administrations, for example endometriosis – where research has been done into menstrual cup links to find no additional risk, the same cannot be said for tampons and if we go on additional research information tampons have been lined to endometriosis and similar issues indirectly [per legal battles with FDA and HPA/DOH/MHRA].

Anything within the vagina can contribute to TSS, as can many other things such as simple grazes or badly timed trips to the hospital, there is the argument that you could get hit by a bus tomorrow but that doesn't mean you jump out in front of it – do the research as you are doing now, don't just limit yourself to TSS or Yahoo! Answers because a lot of this information is kept under wraps.

Answer 2

Basically TSS is what happens when you get a bacterial infection in your blood. Blood is supposed to be sterile so when you're menstruating that just increases the risk of bacteria getting into the blood. So if you test yourself for TSS that would mean testing your blood, but unless you have any of the symptoms it's unlikely you have TSS.
However, you can test your vaginal area for the presence of Staphylococci if you are concerned. This can be done by a simple vaginal swab which can be sent to a lab to be cultured for the presence of any abnormal bacteria.
I should add, Staphylococci are normally present on skin so the less contact you have handling any products that go 'down there' also reduces the risk of TSS.

Answer 3

EVERYONE has bacteria living on them that could cause TSS.

The problem of TSS is not GETTING the bacteria, but providing an environment in which the bacteria can thrive. It is having too much of the bacteria that sends the body in to shock. That is why TSS occurs in women on their period using tampons. While there could be other situations in which you go into toxic shock, it is the tampon that is the great catalyst. The menstrual discharge is great food and the synthetic fibers of the tampon a great place for bacteria to live. All women have a lot of bacteria in their menstrual discharge. TSS happens when, for whatever reason, a person is a prime host for bacteria and their body can't handle it.

Answer 4

yes, you can find out if you have the bacteria living on you naturally through a specified blood test, you can also see if you are going to be susceptible to aquiring the infection through a vaginal swab. these are not openly available at std clinics etc, so depending on your health authority, and your reasons for needing to know will depend on whether you will get one, or whether you may have to go private to get it. not sure on costs of these, but if the MRSA swab is anything to go by, these cost around £60 each. hope this helps, but bear in mind that each health authority is different so yours could differ from mine. xx ps. don't let them fool you into a staph aureous swab only as it is mostly the strep bacteria that causes it and you are 99% guaranteed to have the staph aureous bacteria on your body any way, that test alone will not answer your question - tell them it has to be more specific than that and the strep pyogenes has to be tested for aswell. They should both be able to be done on one swab. you also may get more joy from your Gp than your local womens health clinic as they have more funding xx

Answer 5

Sorry I did not read all of your question. I work in a doctor's office and he said yes, probably a vaginal culture, but I do not think a doc would do this test unless you beg. I also called the OB office across the street and they do not do that test. Good luck