Publication:

Molecular Detection of Panton Valentine Leukocidin Toxin inClinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from KiambuCounty, Kenya

Panton–Valentine leukocidin gene is produced by Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolatesas a pore-forming toxin is largely responsible for skin and soft tissue illnesses. MRSA produces PVL toxins through lukS and lukFproteins causing tissue necrosis by damaging membrane of the defense cells. Presence of PVL toxin was tested from the 54S. aureus clinical isolates obtained from )ika and Kiambu Level 5 Hospitals, in Kiambu County, Kenya, by Geno Type® MRSAassay (Hain Life Science, Nehren, Germany). DNA was isolated from freshly harvested bacterial cultures by spin column usingGeno Type DNA isolation kit. )e detection of PVL toxins was performed by amplification of genomic DNA and by reversehybridization that identifies PVL genes using Geno Type MRSA kit. Out of 138 samples that were collected from patients inKiambu County, 54 S. aureus isolates were obtained, of which 14 (25.9%; 95% CI = 11.9–38.9) samples had PVL toxins. )eisolates that were obtained from the female patients had a higher PVL toxin prevalence of 35.7%, while the isolates collected fromthe male patients had a lower prevalence of 15.4% (P � 0.09). )e pediatrics department had the highest PVL gene prevalencecompared to outpatient department and surgical units (P � 0.08). However, the age groups of patients and the hospital attendedby patients showed no significant difference in terms of PVL gene prevalence (P � 0.26). )erefore, the patients' gender andhospital units were not significantly associated with PVL gene prevalence (P � 0.08). )is study shows that PVL positive isolatesoccur in the sampled hospitals in the county and female as well as children must be taken into consideration among patients withwound infections when isolating S. aureus.