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Updated: May 27, 2025
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in
Bahija Serray1, Mohammed Sobh1, Mohammed Timinouni2
1Laboratory of Microbiology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Ain-Chock, Casablanca, Morocco.
Introduction:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community infections. These infections are becoming increasingly difficult to combat, because of emerging resistance to all classes of antibiotics. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an important virulence factor in MRSA and causes white blood cell destruction, necrosis, and accelerated apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of pvl-positive MRSA in a pediatric hospital, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Methodology:
53 isolates of MRSA were recovered in the hospital from December 2010 to May 2014, and confirmed with biochemical tests (coagulase, mannitol fermentation, and DNase). Then, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect pvl.
Results:
Among the 259 Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected from various clinical specimens, 53 were identified as MRSA; and the presence of the PVL gene was investigated in them using PCR analysis. Out of the 53 MRSA isolates, only 1 (1.89%) was positive for pvl This pvl-positive MRSA isolate was characterized as staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec IV (SCCmec IV), a type commonly associated with community-acquired MRSA infections.
Conclusions:
The study revealed a relatively low prevalence of PVL-positive MRSA among pediatric patients at the University Hospital Center CHU Mohamed VI in Marrakech, with only 1.89% of MRSA isolates testing positive for pvl. Despite this low prevalence, the presence of PVL-positive strains accentuates a potential risk for severe infections in vulnerable children. These findings underscore the imperative need for sustained surveillance and rigorous infection control measures to mitigate the spread of MRSA and other resistant pathogens.
Insights
A study in Marrakech found only 1.89% of pediatric Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates carried the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene. This low prevalence highlights the need for ongoing surveillance of PVL-positive MRSA in children.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat due to rising antibiotic resistance.
- Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a key MRSA virulence factor responsible for severe tissue damage.
- Combating resistant bacterial infections requires understanding the prevalence of specific virulence factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of pvl-positive MRSA in a pediatric hospital in Marrakech, Morocco.
- To assess the potential risk associated with PVL-producing MRSA in a vulnerable pediatric population.
- To inform infection control strategies by characterizing MRSA strains.
Main Methods:
- Collected 53 MRSA isolates from pediatric clinical specimens between December 2010 and May 2014.
- Confirmed MRSA using biochemical tests (coagulase, mannitol fermentation, DNase).
- Utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of the pvl gene.
Main Results:
- Out of 259 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 53 were identified as MRSA.
- Only 1 MRSA isolate (1.89%) tested positive for the pvl gene.
- The single pvl-positive MRSA isolate was identified as SCCmec IV, typical of community-acquired infections.
Conclusions:
- PVL-positive MRSA exhibited a low prevalence (1.89%) in the studied pediatric hospital population.
- The presence of PVL-positive MRSA, even at low rates, indicates a potential risk for severe pediatric infections.
- Continuous surveillance and robust infection control are crucial to manage MRSA spread and associated risks.
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