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2008•Journal of the Intensive Care SocietyRequires access

Necrotising Pneumonia, Staphylococcus Aureus and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin

Brendan A. McGrath, Fionna Rutledge, Emma Broadfield

Open publisher page 15 citations

Abstract

The Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) strain of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is producing a new pattern of MRSA-related disease in the UK and world-wide. PVL is one of several extracellular cytotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus, and is usually associated with skin and soft tissue infections. PVL MRSA is uncommon in hospitals, but in the US, and now in the UK, there have been reports of severe, rapidly progressive, community-acquired haemorrhagic, necrotising pneumonia occurring in previously healthy young adults, and associated with a mortality rate of up to 75%. We review features of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this condition, whose incidence appears to be increasing in the UK.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

The Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) strain of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is producing a new pattern of MRSA-related disease in the UK and world-wide. PVL is one of several extracellular cytotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus, and is usually associated with skin and soft tissue infections. PVL MRSA is uncommon in hospitals, but in the US, and now in the UK, there have been reports of severe, rapidly progressive, community-acquired haemorrhagic, necrotising pneumonia occurring in previously healthy young adults, and associated with a mortality rate of up to 75%. We review features of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this condition, whose incidence appears to be increasing in the UK.

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OpenAlex reports 15 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

The Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) strain of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is producing a new pattern of MRSA-related disease in the UK and world-wide. PVL is one of several extracellular cytotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus, and is usually associated with skin and soft tissue infections. PVL MRSA is uncommon in hospitals, but in the US, and now in the UK, there have been reports of severe, rapidly progressive, community-acquired haemorrhagic, necrotising pneumonia occurring in previously healthy young adults, and associated with a mortality rate of up to 75%. We review features of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this condition, whose incidence appears to be increasing in the UK.

Key concepts: Leukocidin, Staphylococcus aureus, Panton–Valentine leukocidin, Pneumonia, Microbiology, Medicine, Staphylococcal Skin Infections, Meticillin

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