[Toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes].

Necrotizing fasciitis and myositis due to Lancefield group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection is a medical emergency. Survival depends on aggressive early wound management as well as high-dose intravenous antibiotics. We report about a 28-year-old man with fulminant necrotizing fasciitis and myositis of his right arm, in whom many features of the toxic shock syndrome were present, including profound hypotension and renal failure. After extensive surgical debridement with amputation of his arm in combination with high-dose intravenous penicillin G the patient recovered from this serious infection.