The Effect of Publicity on the Reporting of Toxic-Shock Syndrome in Wisconsin

Abstract

The Wisconsin and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surveillance for toxic-shock syndrome (TSS) were compared; the distributions of CDC and Wisconsin cases in 1980 by calendar quarter of the initial onset were virtually identical. Among 131 cases in Wisconsin, 33 of 40 self-reported vs. 16 of 91 physician-reported cases were reported during the four-week period (September 18-October 15, 1980) following the CDC announcement of a higher relative risk of TSS among users of Rely tampons (Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio) (P less than 0.001). Of cases with onsets during October 1, 1979-June 30, 1980, eight of 31 women with physician-reported cases vs. nine of 15 with self-reported cases used Rely tampons during their TSS-associated menstrual period (P less than 0.05). Multiple interviews of 22 patients with TSS suggested that patient recall of tampon brand may have been influenced by publicity about TSS. Passive as compared with partially active surveillance for TSS significantly favored self-reporting. In Wisconsin, the volume and source of TSS reporting have been greatly influenced by publicity, and selective reporting of TSS has been influenced by the content of news media reports of TSS.

Tampon use in women with endometriosis

“…11 In June 1980, CDC reported the statistical association between TSS and tampons, and in September 1980, Proctor and Gamble voluntarily recalled its product, Rely, from the market I~ although Rely did not account for all the variation in the occurrence of TSS. Todd noted the occurrence of toxic shock in several children and adolescents.…”

Mumps and the media: changes in the reporting of mumps in response to newspaper coverage

“…Although there are few studies on the relationship between newspaper coverage and changes in the reporting of communicable diseases, the findings of this study are similar to those from analyses of media coverage of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome in the USA. 8 The extent to which the media influences the behaviour of healthcare professionals with regard to the reporting of communicable diseases through increasing awareness is debatable; however, there is limited evidence of an effect, and research has shown that passive surveillance systems are more likely to be affected than active surveillance systems. 8 Several limitations are associated with this study.…”

“…8 The extent to which the media influences the behaviour of healthcare professionals with regard to the reporting of communicable diseases through increasing awareness is debatable; however, there is limited evidence of an effect, and research has shown that passive surveillance systems are more likely to be affected than active surveillance systems. 8 Several limitations are associated with this study. Firstly, the exclusion of other media sources may have an effect on this study.…”

Toxic shock syndrome

“…High-risk groups appear to be postpartum women (24,30,35,67,68,187)-and patients with surgical wound infections (8,25,57,187), focal staphylococcal infections (175), and nasal surgery (78,85,162,166 Incidence It is difficult to determine the true incidence of TSS in populations for which reliance is placed on passive reporting (29,120,159). Davis and Vergeront demonstrated that self-reporting of TSS cases was encouraged by frequent newspaper coverage of the topic and seemed to diminish when articles on the subject were infrequent (49). A number of the early studies on the epidemiology of TSS relied on passive case reporting (47,153) and came to the conclusion that its incidence decreased after removal of Rely tampons from the market (134 (123).…”