[Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus necrotizing pneumonia secreting Panton-Valentine leukocidin in an infant]

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) necrotizing pneumonia secreting Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) has a high mortality rate, approximately 50% according to recent data, mainly in children and young adults. Recently, 2 cases of the disease have been reported in newborn twins with a good outcome. We report a third case of community-acquired necrotizing pneumonia due to SA sensitive to methicillin (SASM) secreting Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) in an infant, initially paucisymptomatic, in the context of familial furunculosis, with a fatal outcome. Cases of necrotizing pneumonia in this age group are emerging, and extensive information for clinicians is needed due to the high mortality rate of the disease.