Fatal necrotizing pneumonia due to a Panton-Valentine leukocidin positive community-associated methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and Influenza co-infection: a case report

Recent studies have described a number of fatalities due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and influenza virus co-infection. MRSA isolates provide a challenge to caregivers due to inherent wide range antibiotic resistance. Many facilities have instituted screening methods, based on the presence of antibiotic resistance genes, to identify MRSA positive patients upon admission. However, the resistance profile of the pathogen does not necessarily determine the severity of disease caused by that organism. We describe a fatal case of necrotizing pneumonia in a patient co-infected with Influenza B and a community-associated, PVL-positive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).