Study links staph bacteria to dangerous pneumonia

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Certain bacteria in staph infections are capable of causing necrotizing pneumonia.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria found on the skin and in the nose. It causes a range of problems, from minor skin infections to meningitis and pneumonia. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) can cause serious skin and soft tissue infections. These tend to occur in a hospital setting among those not previously hospitalized or undergoing invasive medical procedures.

A team at the Texas A & M Health Science Center now reveal that a particular strain of CA-MRSA, one which produces a toxin called PVL (Panton Valentine leukocidin) is dangerous because it can produce necrotizing pneumonia, an aggressive form of the disease which can be fatal in as little as 72 hours. In December, the first case of necrotizing pneumonia was reported in the UK. In this study, the researchers shows that PVL can disrupt cells in the body and PVL strains of CA-MRSA can attach to and colonize lung tissue, setting the scene for necrotizing pneumonia. The findings can be used to find new therapies and strategies to battle this particularly lethal form of CA-MRSA.

Source
Science Express online 18th January 2007