Abstract
The expression of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) has been implicated as a virulence factor for communityacquired Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia with most reported cases involving methicillin-resistant strains. Here we describe a case of community-acquired, PVL-positive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) sufficiently virulent to cause rapidly progressive necrotizing pneumonia, massive pulmonary hemorrhage, sepsis, and death in a patient without conventional risk factors (diabetes, advanced age). To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a fatal necrotizing pneumonia caused by PVL-positive MSSA in Los Angeles County.
Keywords: PVL, MSSA, community-acquired necrotizing pneumonia and massive hemoptysis