title: [Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive osteoarticular infections].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of osteoarticular infections with Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive (PVL) Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) among patients admitted to the orthopedic ward at the Sahloul University Hospital (Sousse, Tunisia) and to study the characteristics of these strains and patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective descriptive study over a 5-year period. Bacterial identification, antibiotic susceptibility, and molecular study (PCR to detect of the luk-PV gene that encodes PVL) were performed for 44 S. aureus isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Panton-Valentine toxin was found in 41% of S. aureus cases, mainly males, and 39% of the PVL(+) cases were methicillin-sensitive (MSSA). These strains constitute a reservoir of PVL genes that can lead to the emergence and spread of PVL-SA clones resistant to methicillin (MRSA). In our series, PVL-MRSA accounted for 9% of all S. aureus isolates. Their profile and antibiotic resistance is that of clone ST80, frequently isolated in Europe and also reported in Algeria and Tunisia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is desirable to test for PVL routinely in the laboratory to implement appropriate treatment and to monitor the epidemiology of these PVL-SA strains actively. Further measures should be undertaken to prevent and fight infections by these strains.
authors.affiliation: CHU Sahloul Sousse, route Ceinture, cité Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chaouch
authors.affiliation: CHU Sahloul Sousse, route Ceinture, cité Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kacem
authors.affiliation: CHU Sahloul Sousse, route Ceinture, cité Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tilouche
authors.affiliation: CHU Sahloul Sousse, route Ceinture, cité Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ketata
authors.affiliation: CHU Sahloul Sousse, route Ceinture, cité Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bouallegue
authors.affiliation: CHU Sahloul Sousse, route Ceinture, cité Sahloul, 4054 Sousse, Tunisie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boujaafar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin
keywords: Panton-Valentine leukocidin; Staphylococcus aureus; Tunisia; bone and joint infections