[Fatal pneumonia in an adolescent due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus positive for Panton-Valentine-leukocidin].

Abstract

A 15-year-old girl developed a severe Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia following an influenza virus infection. The patient was admitted to a paediatric intensive-care facility because of respiratory and circulatory failure. Despite aggressive therapy, she died on the third day following admission to the intensive care unit due to secondary hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Blood and respiratory aspirate cultures showed community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) with a normal antibiotic sensitivity except for betalactam antibiotics. PCR-based methods demonstrated that the isolate possessed the Panton-Valentine-leukocidin (PVL) gene, encoding an S. aureus exotoxin that is associated with fulminant necrotising pneumonia. This case shows that clinicians in the Netherlands should also be aware of the possibility of CA-MRSA in patients without risk factors for MRSA carriage. Especially in children and adolescents with an influenza virus infection, pneumonia due to PVL-positive S. aureus strains may be life-threatening.

• Authors: M van der Flier, N B van Dijk, A C Fluit, A Fleer, T F Wolfs, J P van Gestel
• Journal: Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde (Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd) Vol. 147 Issue 22 Pg. 1076-9 (May 31 2003) ISSN: 0028-2162 [Print] Netherlands
• Vernacular Title: Fatale pneumonie bij een adolescent door thuis opgelopen meticillineresistente Staphylococcus aureus positief voor Panton-Valentine-leukocidine.
• PMID: 12814021 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bacterial Toxins
• Exotoxins
• Leukocidins
• Panton-Valentine leukocidin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Bacterial Toxins
• Community-Acquired Infections (microbiology, mortality, pathology)
• Exotoxins
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Humans
• Leukocidins (genetics, metabolism)
• Methicillin Resistance
• Pneumonia, Staphylococcal (microbiology, mortality, pathology)
• Staphylococcal Infections (microbiology, mortality, pathology)
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects, genetics, pathogenicity)