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Risk Factors of Gillet et al for Mortality of a Patient with Pneumonia Caused By a Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) Producing Staphylococcus Aureus

Description

Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a cytotoxin produced by certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus as a virulence factor. Community-acquired pneumonia caused by one of these strains may be complicated by multi-organ failure, with a mortality rate of almost 60%. Gillet et al identified factors predictive of mortality, which can help identify patients who may benefit from more aggressive management or novel therapy. The authors are from Lyon, France.


 

Exclusion: hospital-acquired infection

 

Early manifestations of multi-organ failure:

(1) acute respiratory distress

(2) need for mechanical ventilation

(3) hypotension requiring inotrope support

 

Risk factors associated with increased mortality:

(1) erythroderma appearing within the first 24 hours after admission to the hospital

(2) leukopenia (white blood cell count < 4,000 per µL) appearing within the first 24 hours after admission

(3) airway bleeding

 

Risk factors associated with lower mortality (page 318):

(1) focal infection before the onset of pneumonia (skin abscess or deep abscess, with presumed hematogenous spread to the lungs)

(2) pleural effusion present at the time of hospital admission

(3) male gender

 


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