Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2025
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Paediatric osteoarticular infections caused by staphylococcus aureus producing panton-valentine leucocidin in
Kaoutar Moutaouakkil1, Hicham Abdellaoui2, Btissam Arhoune1
1Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco.
Insights
Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) Staphylococcus aureus infections are common in Moroccan children with osteoarticular infections (OAIs). PVL-SA is often methicillin-susceptible and linked to infection type, location, and X-ray findings.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Osteoarticular infections (OAIs) in children can be severe and are often caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
- Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) is a toxin produced by some S. aureus strains, associated with severe infections.
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of PVL-producing S. aureus (PVL-SA) in pediatric OAIs is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of PVL-producing S. aureus in children with OAIs.
- To identify risk factors and clinical features associated with PVL-SA in pediatric OAIs.
- To analyze antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of PVL-SA isolates.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study conducted from January 2017 to December 2018, including hospitalized children with S. aureus OAIs.
- Bacteriological cultures from blood, joint fluid, synovial tissue, and bone fragments.
- Multiplex PCR for methicillin resistance (mecA) and PVL genes (luk-S-PV, luk-F-PV); antimicrobial susceptibility testing via disk diffusion.
Main Results:
- 37 children with S. aureus OAIs were included; 46% had PVL-positive infections.
- PVL-SA infections were significantly associated with infection type (P = 0.005), location (P = 0.037), and abnormal X-rays (P = 0.029).
- All PVL-SA strains were methicillin-susceptible; one PVL-negative strain was methicillin-resistant (mecA positive).
Conclusions:
- PVL-producing S. aureus infections are prevalent in pediatric OAIs in Morocco, primarily methicillin-susceptible.
- Infection characteristics (type, location) and radiographic findings are key indicators associated with PVL-SA.
- Routine PVL-SA diagnostics, ongoing surveillance, and multidisciplinary OAI management are vital for preventing complications.
Objective:
We aimed to estimate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) isolated from children diagnosed with osteoarticular infections (OAIs), and to examine risk factors and clinical features.
Methods:
This prospective study was conducted from January 2017 to December 2018. All hospitalised children diagnosed with S. aureus OAI are included. Blood cultures, articular fluids, synovial tissues and/or bone fragments were collected for bacteriological culture. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were determined by disk diffusion method. Genes encoding methicillin resistance (mecA) and PVL virulence factors (luk-S-PV and luk-F-PV) were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiographic and clinical features were reviewed prospectively from medical records.
Results:
A total of 37 children with S. aureus OAIs were included, 46% of them have PVL-positive infection and 70.6% were male. The mean age was 8.12 years (±4.57), and almost were from rural settings (76.5%). Children with Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine leucocidin (SA-PVL) were significantly associated with type of infection (P = 0.005), location of infection (P = 0.037) and abnormal X-ray (P = 0.029). All strains SA-PVL+ are sensitive to methicillin, but one strain SA-PVL negative was methicillin-resistant S. aureus, confirmed by gene mecA positive.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of S. aureus infections producing PVL toxin was high in OAIs amongst Moroccan children, mainly due to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Type and location of infections and abnormal X-ray were significantly associated with SA-PVL. Routine diagnostic testing of PVL-SA, continuous epidemiological surveillance and multidisciplinary management of OAI is essential to prevent serious complications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:25Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology