Severe Acquired Coagulopathy During Fulminant Staphylococcus aureus Sepsis Most Likely Caused by S. aureus Exotoxins (SSLs)

Abstract

Haemostatic abnormalities frequently occur during sepsis and are most often attributed to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). We report the case of a patient with severe coagulopathy acquired during fulminant S. aureus sepsis. DIC was not present. This coagulopathy was most likely caused by S. aureus exotoxins forming inhibitory complexes with coagulation factor Xa.

Keywords

• Staphylococcus aureus
• coagulopathy
• staphylococcal superantigen-like protein
• coagulation factor Xa
• disseminated intravascular coagulation