Bone and joint infections with Staphylococcus aureus strains producing Panton–Valentine Leukocidin in French Guiana

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of bone and joint infections (BJI) due to Panton-Valentine Leukocidin producing (PVL+) Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in French Guiana. A multicenter study that consists of a retrospective charts review of children admitted for PVL+ S. aureus BJI between January 2010 and December 2015. Six patients with SA-PVL BJI were identified during the study period: 2 osteomyelitis, 1 septic arthritis, and 3 disseminated BJI. The median age was 11 years old (4–14 years), and fever lasted for 3.2 days (2–5 days) before diagnosis. An open skin wound preceded the BJI in 5/6 patients. One patient presented with a septic thrombophlebitis of the femoral-popliteal vein on admission. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were identified for all patients. Three patients had complications: 2 cases of necrotizing pneumonia and 2 pericarditis, with 1 death caused by cardiac tamponade. SA-PVL BJI was not frequent. Strains were susceptible to methicillin, but responsible of severe BJI. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary management of these infections are essential to prevent further complications.