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Panton-Valentine leukocidin positive MRSA in 2003: the Dutch situation

W J B Wannet1, M E O C Heck, G N Pluister

  • 1National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.

Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen Sur Les Maladies Transmissibles = European Communicable Disease Bulletin
|December 14, 2004
PubMed

Insights

In 2003, 8% of Dutch hospital methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. These PVL-MRSA strains matched global epidemic types, with ST8 MRSA significantly increasing.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant public health concern.
  • Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a toxin associated with severe MRSA infections.
  • Understanding the prevalence and genetic background of PVL-MRSA is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the prevalence and molecular characteristics of PVL-MRSA in the Netherlands in 2003.
  • To compare Dutch PVL-MRSA genotypes with known global epidemic types.
  • To investigate the emergence trends of specific PVL-MRSA sequence types.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of MRSA isolates collected in the Netherlands in 2003.
  • Detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene loci.
  • Molecular subtyping using sequence typing (ST) to determine genotypes.
  • Comparison of genotypic data with global MRSA epidemiology.

Main Results:

  • 8% of hospital-acquired MRSA isolates carried the PVL gene.
  • The majority of Dutch PVL-MRSA genotypes aligned with established global epidemic types.
  • Common PVL-MRSA genotypes included ST8, ST22, ST30, ST59, and ST80.
  • A notable increase in ST8 MRSA was observed, rising from 1% in 2002 to 17% in 2003.

Conclusions:

  • PVL-MRSA strains with established global epidemic genotypes were present in the Netherlands in 2003.
  • The significant rise in ST8 MRSA suggests a changing epidemiology.
  • PVL-MRSA may emerge in both community and hospital settings, necessitating vigilant surveillance.

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