[Monitoring genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin in Staphylococcus aureus strains].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the genes encoding an important virulence factor, Panton-Valentine leukocidin, in S. aureus isolates from clinical specimens.


METHODS
S. aureus strains from clinical specimens, mainly from patients with skin diseases, referred by microbiological laboratories of the Czech Republic. The strains were identified by both conventional phenotyping methods and molecular biological procedures, in particular polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Altogether 108 (8.1%) of 1336 S. aureus strains had the genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin in DNA. Only 11 of these strains were MRSA.


CONCLUSIONS
S. aureus strains producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin play an important role in serious infections, particularly of the skin. NRL for Staphylococci, National Institute of Public Health, Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, is able to detect the production of this toxin, under optimal conditions, within two days.
Machová
I
I
Státní zdravotní ústav, Centrum epidemiologie a mikrobiologie, Národní referencní laborator pro stafylokoky, Praha. machova@szu.cz
Petrás
P
P
Blazková
E
E
Knapová
L
L
D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; D037521:Virulence Factors