Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare, life-threatening complication of certain bacterial infections, specifically (but not exclusively) Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria and group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. TSS is often associated with tampon use due primarily to its connection to the use of super-absorbent tampons. There has been a decline in occurrences of TSS in menstruating women since the removal of several types of tampons from the market, but it is still a risk associated with tampon use.