A Case Series of Septicemia Due to Community-acquired Panton–Valentine Toxin Positive Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in Children in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Background: <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (SA) infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Community-acquired (CA) infections with Panton–Valentine leucocidin-positive methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA-PVL) have been in...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Pediatric Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.pidjournal.com/doi/PID/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10081-1470 |
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| Summary: | Background: <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (SA) infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Community-acquired (CA) infections with Panton–Valentine leucocidin-positive methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA-PVL) have been increasingly reported around the world. The emergence of highly virulent resistant strains such as MRSA-PVL is associated with severe infections and poses a threat to child health in resource-limited settings, where their recognition and treatment are often delayed.
Methods: This is a case series of 12 cases collected from 1st August 2020 to 31st August 2021, in a pediatric ward in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The inclusion criteria were sepsis with isolation of MRSA-PVL from blood cultures, no previous hospitalization, and no invasive medical or surgical procedures. We describe the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic features of this often-fatal infection.
Results: Our patients' average age was 3.6 years, with a female-to-male sex ratio of 1:1. Skin lesions were present in 91.7% of patients. MRSA-PVL was isolated from all children in the blood. Antistaphylococcal antibiotic therapy was administered in all cases. A quarter of patients required surgical interventions. The hospital course was favorable for 9/12 patients (75%). All but one patient who developed pleural thickening (11.1%) recovered without sequelae (<i>n</i> = 8, 88.9%). A quarter of patients (<i>n</i> = 3) died due to septic shock.
Conclusion: The emergence of strains of MRSA-PVL is a public health threat in emerging countries. Systematic and widespread epidemiological surveillance is needed to prevent its spread and inform appropriate clinical decision-making.
Clinical significance: This case series highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for new antibiotic resistance patterns in emerging countries with limited microbiological diagnostic resources. |
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| ISSN: | 2582-4988 |