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Necrotising pneumonia due to Panton–Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus

Ada S-Z Cheung, Craig A Aboltins, John R Daffy and Peter A Stanley
Med J Aust 2008; 188 (6): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01660.x
Published online: 17 March 2008

To the Editor: Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a potent necrotising toxin, which, although produced by less than 5% of all Staphylococcus aureus strains, is strongly associated with pathogenic isolates that cause recurrent furunculosis and severe necrotising pneumonia.1 The virulence of PVL-positive community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) causing necrotising pneumonia was recently highlighted in the Journal.2 Conversely, PVL produced by methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) is uncommon.1 Here, we describe a case of fulminant necrotising pneumonia caused by PVL-positive MSSA, which, to our knowledge, is the first reported case in Australia.


  • Department of Infectious Diseases, Northern Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.


Correspondence: ada.cheung@austin.org.au

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  • 3. Nimmo GR, Coombs GW, Pearson JC, et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Australian community: an evolving epidemic. Med J Aust 2006; 184: 384-388. <MJA full text>
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  • 5. Voyich JM, Otto M, Mathema B, et al. Is Panton–Valentine leukocidin the major virulence determinant in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus disease? J Infect Dis 2006; 194: 1761-1770.
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  • 7. Gauduchon V, Cozon G, Vandenesch F, et al. Neutralization of Staphylococcus aureus Panton Valentine leukocidin by intravenous immunoglobulin in vitro. J Infect Dis 2004; 189: 346-353.

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