'Toxic strep syndrome'. A manifestation of group A streptococcal infection.

Three patients presented with multisystem disease that shared many of the features of toxic shock syndrome. Bacteriologic and serologic evidence strongly suggested that group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus had caused the illnesses. Group A streptococcal infection may be an underdiagnosed cause of a toxic streptococcal syndrome, a syndrome of multisystem disease apparently mediated by toxins.