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Necrotizing haemorrhagic pneumonia proves fatal in an immunocompetent child due to Panton–Valentine Leucocidin, toxic shock syndrome toxins 1 and 2 and enterotoxin C‐producing Staphylococcus aureus
Author(s) -
Mushtaq Farah,
Hildrew Sandra,
Okugbeni Gabriel,
Ellis Richard W
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00797.x
Subject(s) - toxic shock syndrome , medicine , purpura fulminans , superantigen , staphylococcus aureus , pneumonia , panton–valentine leukocidin , enterotoxin , shock (circulatory) , microbiology and biotechnology , purpura (gastropod) , immunology , staphylococcal infections , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , dermatology , bacteria , ecology , biochemistry , immune system , escherichia coli , t cell , biology , gene , genetics , chemistry
Panton–Valentine leucocidin (PVL) toxin‐producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) are associated with skin abscesses and furunculosis, with necrotizing pneumonia being a relatively rare problem. Here, we describe a fatal case of necrotizing pneumonia in a 14‐year‐old child who presented initially with sore throat and pyrexia. He deteriorated rapidly, developing hypotension, multiple organ failure and purpura fulminans. S. aureus was isolated from the tracheal aspirate, which was found to be positive for PVL, toxic shock syndrome toxins (TSST) 1 and 2 and staphylococcal enterotoxin C (SEC). It was postulated that purpura fulminans and toxic shock syndrome were a result of the abovementioned exotoxins. Conclusion: This case highlights the emergence of PVL‐positive community‐acquired S. aureus infection and association of purpura fulminans with superantigens. Practitioners should be aware of this illness in order to initiate appropriate treatment.