Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 64 (1), 58-60, 2011
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Short Communication
Fatal Necrotizing Pneumonia Caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Producing Hospital-Acquired Staphylococcus aureus: a Case Report
Hassanain Al-Talib*, Habsah Hasan, Chan Yean Yean, Sami M. Al-Ashwal1, and Manickam Ravichandran2
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology and 1Department of Radiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan; and 2Faculty of Applied Sciences, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University, Kedah, Malaysia
(Received September 17, 2010. Accepted November 19, 2010)
*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. Tel: +609 7666275, Fax: +609 7648673, E-mail: hassanainiy@yahoo.com
SUMMARY: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a cytotoxin which causes leukocyte destruction and tissue necrosis. Although it is produced by fewer than 5% of Staphylococcus aureus strains, PVL-producing S. aureus is emerging as a serious problem worldwide. There has been a marked increase in the incidence of necrotizing lung infections with a very high mortality associated with these strains. This report describes a fatal case of hospital-acquired necrotizing pneumonia caused by PVL-positive methicillin-susceptible S. aureus in a patient with a brain tumor.