BACKGROUND Skin infections due to Staphylococcus aureus have recently become a public concern, mainly because of emerging resistance against widely used antibiotics and specific virulence determinants. Strains harboring the lukS-lukF gene (which codes for Panton-Valentine leukocidin) are frequently associated with severe furunculosis. Generally applicable strategies for the control of community...

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a human pathogen that relies on the subversion of host phagocytes to support its pathogenic lifestyle. S. aureus strains can produce up to five beta-barrel, bi-component, pore-forming leukocidins that target and kill host phagocytes. Thus, preventing immune cell killing by these toxins is likely to boost host immunity. Here, we describe the identification of...

1. Vandenesch F, Couzon F, Boisset S, et al. The Panton-Valentine leukocidin is a virulence factor in a murine model of necrotizing pneumonia. J Infect Dis 2010; 201:967–969 (in this issue). 2. Villaruz A, Bubeck Wardenburg J, Khan BA, et al. A point mutation in the agr locus rather than expression of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin caused previously reported phenotypes in Staphylococcus aureus...

The Panton-Valentine leukocidin is associated with staphylococcal skin and pulmonary infections. We describe a school outbreak of skin infections and the public health response to it. Nasal carriage of a Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus clone was detected only in previously ill classmates and their family members.

During 2005-2014, community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections increased in Shanghai, China. Most infections were caused by sequence type 59 S. aureus that lacked Panton-Valentine leukocidin. This finding challenges the notion that Panton-Valentine leukocidin is necessary for epidemiologic success of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

Necrotising pneumonia caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Staphylococcus aureus confers a high mortality. We describe a child presenting with sepsis and necrotising pneumonia. Septicaemia caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Staphylococcus may not be adequately treated with antibiotics to which it appears sensitive through standard culture techniques. Some evidence suggests that early anti-t...

Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is associated with staphylococcal skin and pulmonary infections. Community dissemination of PVL-producing Staphylococcus aureus strains constitutes a public health concern. Family transmission and spread of community-acquired leukocidin-positive methicillin-susceptible S. aureus ST152 isolates associated with severe clinical symptoms are herein described. Remar...

Staphylococcus aureus strains that produce Panton-Valentine leukocidin are known to cause community infections. We describe an outbreak of skin abscesses caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (clonal complex 121) in a professional rugby team in France during July 2010-February 2011. Eight team members were carriers; 7 had skin abscesses.