Staphylococcus aureus positive for Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes but susceptible to methicillin in patients with furuncles

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005 Jul;24(7):477-9. doi: 10.1007/s10096-005-1354-2.

Abstract

A total of 75 Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from patients with either recurrent skin abscesses or furuncles (n=48) or chronic infections from other body sites (n=27) were screened for the presence of the lukS-PV and lukF-PV genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin. Significantly more isolates (70.8% vs. 7.4%, p<0.001) from patients suffering skin abscesses or furuncles were positive for lukS-PV and lukF-PV. These isolates belonged to the accessory gene regulator (agr) group Ia (9/48), group III (13/48), or group IV (19/48). In contrast with results of other investigations, none of the isolates positive for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes in this study exhibited methicillin resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / microbiology
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Exotoxins
  • Female
  • Furunculosis / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocidins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Exotoxins
  • Leukocidins
  • Panton-Valentine leukocidin