Invasive staphylococcal disease

I.S.D. of recent years seems more common than formerly, and unrecognised it can be rapidly fatal or can lead to much avoidable suffering. Early diagnosis with effective treatment is the only answer to this severe infection and much has been learned in recent years of the value of combined antibiotic approach together with certain other supportive measures, but even so in this infection we still face a gross mortality of nearly 20 per cent. and even in those who come early for treatment the mortality rate has not fallen below 10 per cent.