Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in 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 v...

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Main Authors: Bahija Serray, Mohammed Sobh, Mohammed Timinouni, Mohamed El Azhari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20319
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author Bahija Serray
Mohammed Sobh
Mohammed Timinouni
Mohamed El Azhari
author_facet Bahija Serray
Mohammed Sobh
Mohammed Timinouni
Mohamed El Azhari
author_sort Bahija Serray
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-2c05c817b01b48d8b5a28d1d1dd98ef42025-08-20T02:57:17ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802025-01-01190110.3855/jidc.20319Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in MoroccoBahija Serray0Mohammed Sobh1Mohammed Timinouni2Mohamed El Azhari3Laboratory of Microbiology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Ain-Chock, Casablanca, MoroccoLaboratory of Microbiology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Ain-Chock, Casablanca, MoroccoMolecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, MoroccoMolecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, 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. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20319Panton-Valentine leukocidinpvlmethicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
spellingShingle Bahija Serray
Mohammed Sobh
Mohammed Timinouni
Mohamed El Azhari
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in Morocco
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Panton-Valentine leukocidin
pvl
methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
title Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in Morocco
title_full Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in Morocco
title_fullStr Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in Morocco
title_full_unstemmed Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in Morocco
title_short Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in Morocco
title_sort methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus with panton valentine leukocidin gene from a pediatric hospital in morocco
topic Panton-Valentine leukocidin
pvl
methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20319
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AT mohammedsobh methicillinresistantstaphylococcusaureuswithpantonvalentineleukocidingenefromapediatrichospitalinmorocco
AT mohammedtiminouni methicillinresistantstaphylococcusaureuswithpantonvalentineleukocidingenefromapediatrichospitalinmorocco
AT mohamedelazhari methicillinresistantstaphylococcusaureuswithpantonvalentineleukocidingenefromapediatrichospitalinmorocco