Necrotizing fasciitis caused by a variant of epidemic methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus -15

We report a case of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), caused by community-acquired epidemic methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus 15 (EMRSA 15). The patient had a prolonged recovery period following treatment with antibiotics and surgical debridement of the infected part. Molecular characterization revealed that the isolate carried Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCC mec) type IV harboring Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (pvl) gene and having accessory gene regulator (agr) type I. The isolate was positive for enterotoxin gene cluster (egc). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns revealed that the isolate belonged sequence type 22, which is an Indian variant of EMRSA 15, reported earlier.