Severe invasive Panton-Valentine Leucocidin positive Staphylococcus aureus infections in children in London, UK.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the features of invasive Panton-Valentine Leucocidin positive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) in children at a London teaching hospital, from 2004 to 2008.


METHODS
Retrospective case note review.


RESULTS
Eleven previously healthy children, 7 male, median age 9 years (range 7 months-13 years), had invasive infections due to unrelated community-acquired meticillin-sensitive PVL-SA. Possible risk factors were identified in 10 cases. Eight patients had complicated musculoskeletal infections, 2 had pneumonia, and 1 had a massive retropharyngeal abscess. At admission neutropenia was present in 2 patients, deep vein thrombosis in 3, and initial blood cultures were positive in 8. Patients with musculoskeletal involvement had a median of 3 (range 1-6) sites of infection, and required median 5 (range 1-11) operative procedures. Eight patients were admitted to PICU, 7 had septic shock. Median duration of hospital stay was 51 (range 14-255) days. One child died and 5 have long-term morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical features of invasive PVL-SA in this series were similar to those reported from USA and Europe. Musculoskeletal infection was the most common manifestation, frequently progressing to multiple sites and severe sepsis. Most cases had risk factors and clinical features which might have allowed earlier diagnosis, and possibly improved outcome.
Cunnington
A
A
Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK.
Brick
T
T
Cooper
M
M
Danin
J
J
Hunt
D
D
Jeanes
A
A
Kearns
A M
AM
Nolan
M
M
Lyall
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics*; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin