A case of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in a 15-year-old patient undergoing reconstructive burn surgery is reported. This syndrome, first described in menstruating women using tampons, can also occur as a postsurgical complication. The epidemiology, microbiology, clinical presentation and management of non-menstrual TSS are discussed and correlated with the patient present. We advise caution in the use of occlusive dressings and recommend constant isolation of patients with open wounds colonized with a TSST-1 producing strain of Staph. aureus.