VLI's Today contraceptive sponge
Executive Summary
FDA Office of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Director Gerald Faich, MD, et al, reported in the Jan. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. that there has been an incidence of 13 cases of sponge-related toxic shock syndrome (TSS) from the time the drug was launched in July 1983 through Nov. 1, 1984. During that time, they note that 20 mil. sponges were distributed. The authors conclude that while the risk of TSS is elevated with sponge use, "it still represents a small risk." They report that "to date about one case (without predisposing factors and occurring within 48 hours of use) per 2 million sponges used has been reported".