Sudden death caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene in a young girl.

Staphylococcus aureus carrying the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene could be the source of both recurrent furunculosis or abscesses and severe infections, mainly necrotising pneumonia. We present the case of a young girl from consanguineous parents who died suddenly. The postmortem examination revealed necrotising pneumonia due to a PVL producing Staphylococcus aureus strain, raising the question of the role of the host's immune status in this infection.