Role of PVL in Skin Infection

The amount of Panton-Valentine leukocidin produced by strains of Staphylococcus aureus may be critical in the development of skin infection.

Understanding the pathogenesis of skin infections that are due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is important to the development of therapeutic agents for these infections. One particular factor in staphylococcal virulence — Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) — has garnered much attention because it is produced by most CA-MRSA strains, but questions remain about its role in the production of skin infections.

Investigators evaluated the level of PVL produced by strains of S. aureus (both methicillin-resistant and -susceptible) that were collected from patients with skin and soft-tissue infections at three hospitals in New York City. The strains were categorized as producing high or low amounts of PVL, …

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)