Significant increase in the prevalence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant , particularly the USA300 variant ΨUSA300, in the Japanese community.

USA300 is an MRSA clone producing PVL, a toxin associated with SSTIs. ΨUSA300 is a USA300 variant recently identified in Japan by Takadama et al. (15).

Current status of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with skin and soft tissue infections in Japan.

The USA300 clone, which produces Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), is a major pathogenic community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) clone that causes intractable skin infections. Recently, PVL-positive CA-MRSA, including USA300 clones, have emerged in both communities and hospitals in Japan. To prevent an outbreak of PVL-positive MRSA, infected patients should be treated with effective antimicrobial agents at community clinics.

Prevalence of skin infections caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Japan, particularly in Ishigaki, Okinawa.

The prevalence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene (pvl)-positive community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 clone, which is designated as the ST8-staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type IV (ST8-IV) lineage, is a major public health concern worldwide. Thus, to elucidate the prevalence and characteristics of pvl-positive community-onset MRSA in Japan, we conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis for 854 S. aureus isolates obtained from outpatients with skin infections during 2013 and 2014.