Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin as a cause of acute osteomyelitis in children.
Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the cause of acute childhood osteomyelitis in 19 patients. A single clone of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carrying the type IV mecA staphylococcal cassette chromosome and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes was isolated from five patients. Among the remaining 14 patients, two methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates were PVL-positive. The maximal erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein values, and the time required for normalisation, were significantly different in patients with PVL-positive strains (MRSA and MSSA), suggesting that the production of PVL is an important factor that contributes to the course of the disease.
Sdougkos
G
G
Department of Orthopaedics, Karamandaneion Children's Hospital, Patras, Greece.
Chini
V
V
Papanastasiou
D A
DA
Christodoulou
G
G
Tagaris
G
G
Dimitracopoulos
G
G
Spiliopoulou
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein