Polyclonal emergence and importation of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains harbouring Panton-Valentine leucocidin genes in Belgium

Objectives : Worldwide spread of a limited number of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) -producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones has been reported in various communities. The objective of this study was to describe the molecular characteristics of the first PVL-positive MRSA strains isolated in Belgium. Methods : Clinical MRSA isolates ( n = 41) collected from 2002 to 2004 from Belgian patients were investigated for the PVL gene by PCR. PVL-positive isolates were genotyped by PFGE, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ) typing, spa sequence typing, accesso... Mehr ...