Open AccessSudden death caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene in a young girl
Author(s) -
Thanh-Van Trieu,
J. Gaudelus,
Sophie D. Lefevre,
Anne Marie Teychene,
Isabelle Poilane,
Anne Colig,
Jérôme Étienne,
Loïc de Pontual
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.02.2009.1542
Subject(s) - leukocidin , panton–valentine leukocidin , staphylococcus aureus , medicine , pneumonia , microbiology and biotechnology , girl , immunology , virology , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , biology , bacteria , genetics
Staphylococcus aureus carrying the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene could be the source of both recurrent furunculosis or abscesses and severe infections, mainly necrotising pneumonia. We present the case of a young girl from consanguineous parents who died suddenly. The postmortem examination revealed necrotising pneumonia due to a PVL producing Staphylococcus aureus strain, raising the question of the role of the host's immune status in this infection.