title: Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) - an uninvited stowaway aboard a Royal Navy submarine.
abstract: The toxin Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) is a virulence factor produced by some strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, SA) that destroys leucocytes. PVL-SA predominantly results in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) but may also cause invasive disease, including necrotising pneumonia, which may affect healthy young individuals and has a high mortality. We describe a case of PVL-SA in a submariner who presented at sea and which resulted in a requirement to both alter the submarine's programme and undertake population screening. The case highlights many important issues pertinent to military populations including clinical and public health considerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford.
authors.forename: S J N
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bourn
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004203:Disinfection; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007866:Leg; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008889:Military Personnel; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013366:Submarine Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; D002981:Clindamycin