[Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin : notions in clinical practice].

Staphylococcal skin infections, especially recurrent abscesses, or those that do not respond to conventional treatment (drainage or antibiotics), are frequently associated with the Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) toxin which may be diagnosed by PCR in the laboratory with a result within 24 hours. Treatment changes according to the clinical presentation and the resistance of Staphylococcus.The presence of these PVL-producing strains is increasingly frequent in clinical practice, partially because of the current migratory flow. We will need epidemiological studies to determine the exact prevalence in Europe.