A Study of Community-Acquired Pyodermas with Special Reference to Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL)-Positive...

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Community-acquired (CA) pyodermas are frequent outpatient dermatology infections.
• Staphylococcus aureus is a common causative agent, including CA-methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and CA-methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).
• The Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene is a virulence factor potentially linked to severe and recurrent skin infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of CA-MRSA in pyodermas.
• To determine the presence of PVL genes in CA-MRSA and CA-MSSA isolates.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 205 CA pyoderma cases.
• Bacteriological examination of wound exudate.
• Molecular analysis (PCR) for mecA and PVL genes in MRSA and MSSA isolates.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 90% of CA pyodermas.
• The prevalence of CA-MRSA was 3.5% in the studied community.
• The PVL gene was not detected in any of the tested CA-MRSA or CA-MSSA isolates.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of MRSA in CA pyodermas in this region is low.
• PVL does not appear to be a significant virulence factor in the isolated MRSA strains.
• Further multicentric studies are needed to confirm these findings.