Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing Staphylococcus aureus responsible for necrotizing pneumonia

Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing (PVL) Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a highly lethal necrotizing pneumonia, which occurs predominantly in young immunocompetent patients. Hemoptysis and leucopenia often occur but are not always present. Detection of PVL gene on S. aureus strains responsible for pneumonia should help us to a better understanding of this disease, to improve its treatment with antibiotics capable of lower the toxin production and to prevent its diffusion to others persons by detection and elimination of a nasal S. aureus carriage.