Outbreak of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Associated Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infection in a Rugby...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) producing Staphylococcus aureus strains are associated with community-acquired infections.
• Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) can also cause severe skin and soft tissue infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an outbreak of skin abscesses caused by PVL-producing MSSA in a professional rugby team.
• To identify the characteristics of the outbreak and the causative bacterial strain.

Main Methods:

• Case identification within the rugby team.
• Microbiological investigation to identify Staphylococcus aureus and Panton-Valentine leukocidin production.
• Molecular typing to determine the clonal complex of the isolates.

Main Results:

• An outbreak of skin abscesses occurred in a professional rugby team in France between July 2010 and February 2011.
• Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus belonging to clonal complex 121 was identified as the causative agent.
• Eight team members were identified as carriers, and seven developed skin abscesses.

Conclusions:

• PVL-producing MSSA, particularly clonal complex 121, can cause significant outbreaks of skin infections in close-contact settings.
• This highlights the importance of recognizing and managing MSSA infections, even in the absence of methicillin resistance.
• Prompt identification and control measures are crucial to limit the spread of such infections in communities.