Molecular Detection of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus pathogen

Background: Methicillin resistance in S. aureus is caused by the acquisition of  mecA gene, that encodes an additional s-lactam-resistant penicillin-binding protein, termed PBP2a. PVL toxin is one of many toxins produced by S.aureus. Objectives: to  evaluate the efficacy of phenotypic methods and detection of mec A gene with PCR for detection of MRSA and to assess the incidence of PVL gene in MRSA and all S. aureus isolates Methods: 576 patients from Assiut University Hospitals were enrolled in this study were classified into community acquired infection group (CAI) and Hospital acquired infection group (HAI)culture and PCR were done for all samples Results: 92 s.aureus isolates detected MRSA were 62 (67.4%) of all  S.aureus infections, They were 30 (65.2 %) of CAI and 32 (69.6 %) of HAI, The prevalence of PVL genes, The prevalence of PVL genes in CAI isolates was 10.9%. None of HAI isolates had PVL gene. Conclusion: The presence of PVL gene cannot be used as a sole marker for CA-MRSA and further studies are required to find a reliable marker or combination of markers to facilitate the recognition of CA- MRSA strains.