Detection of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Gene in Clinical Isolates of Staphylococci at Assiut University Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin is mainly associated with necrotic lesions involving the skin or mucosa .PVL has been linked by epidemiological studies to community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococci (CA-MRSA) and a relatively few data about the incidence of this toxin in nosocomial infections . Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of PVL gene in nosocomial staphylococcal isolates at Assiut University Hospitals, and to investigate its association with various risk factors and different types of infections. Methodology: This study was a case control study carried on seventy eight patients with nosocomial infections admitted to Postoperative ICU, Trauma ICU, Chest ICU and Internal Medicine ICU; also 27 patients of community acquired infections were also included as a control group. The detection of the mecA gene and PVL gene were done by single target polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Result: The PVL-gene producing strains constituted (17.9%) of all nosocomial isolates. The PVL-gene were detected in all CA-MRSA (44.4%) and not detected in CA-MSSA. Conclusion: Detection of PVL-gene in both community and hospital isolates made this gene not a reliable genetic marker for CA-MRSA.