Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Positive Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Blood in Korea.
10.3343/kjlm.2007.27.4.286
- Author:
Jae Seok KIM
1
;
Jeong Su PARK
;
Wonkeun SONG
;
Han Sung KIM
;
Hyoun Chan CHO
;
Kyu Man LEE
;
Eui Chong KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine1, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:English Abstract ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureus;
MRSA;
Panton-Valentine leukocidin;
Toxin;
SCCmec;
Soft tissue infection
- MeSH:
Adult;
Bacteremia/*microbiology;
Bacterial Proteins/genetics;
Bacterial Toxins/*blood;
Exotoxins/*blood;
Female;
Humans;
Korea;
Leukocidins/*blood;
Male;
Methicillin/pharmacology;
Methicillin Resistance/drug effects;
Middle Aged;
Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods;
Staphylococcal Infections/*microbiology;
Staphylococcus aureus/genetics/*isolation & purification
- From:The Korean Journal of Laboratory Medicine
2007;27(4):286-291
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a pore-forming toxin secreted by some Staphylococcus aureus strains and associated with skin and soft tissue infections; these strains are epidemiologically associated with current outbreaks of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and with necrotizing pneumonia in healthy adults in USA and Europe. This study was performed to investigate the presence of PVL-positive S. aureus and the significant infections known to be caused by this organism. METHODS: A total of 573 strains of S. aureus blood isolates at university-affiliated hospital during 2002 to 2005 were selected. The presence of PVL was investigated using PCR. Additional 12 staphylococcal toxin genes were also examined in PVL-positive S. aureus strains, and MRSA isolates were typed for the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). RESULTS: PVL genes were detected in 5 (0.9%) of 573 S. aureus strains, including 1 MRSA and 4 MSSA. The PVL-positive MRSA isolate was SCCmec type IV, and no other staphylococcal toxins were detected. The median age of the patients infected with PVL-positive S. aureus was 36 yr. Three cases of bacteremia were preceded by skin and soft-tissue infections. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteremia caused by PVL-positive S. aureus strain were detected in 5 patients in Korea, and some of the patients were associated with severe skin and soft-tissue infections. In addition, the PVL-positive MRSA strain of SCCmec type IV, a characteristic of community-acquired MRSA isolates in USA and Europe, also exists in Korea, and can cause the severe infections known to be associated with this organism.
