As Scott and White's PICU team, led by David Hardy, M.D., worked to save Heather's life, her family never gave up hope. Heather's condition improves It was three days before Dr. Bierwirth's lifesaving diagnosis was confirmed by a laboratory toxicology test on bacteria taken from Heather's throat. Heather was suffering from a form of septic shock called toxic shock syndrome. By then, Heather had been treated with antibiotics, insulin, heart medication and other drugs, and her condition was starting to improve. By the time the diagnosis is made, there's nothing you can do about the toxin.
Treatment is aimed at restoring the body's ability to pump blood to the tissues.
Drugs are used to make the heart pump stronger and tone the blood vessels. Most patients, like Heather, are in a coma during the drug therapy and need help to breathe. That's why it's so critical to have immediate medical intervention, because the organs can be permanently damaged very quickly. Uncommon, sometimes fatal Toxic shock syndrome is a serious and sometimes fatal illness caused by the staphylococcus aureus bacterium. There are approximately 10,000 cases of toxic shock reported annually in the United States.