The original interim guidance on the management of the Panton-ValentineLeukocidin (PVL) Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection was produced bythe HPA in 2006. It aimed to provide healthcare professionals witheasily accessible advice to assist the recognition, investigation andmanagement of PVL SA cases. The update will be published in March.
PVL SA is a strain of C-MRSA that can cause soft-tissue infections,leading to boils and abscesses on the skin, and, more rarely, pneumoniasand bloodstream infections. As personal contact, combined with cuts andgrazes, is the principal risk factor, places like prisons, gyms,nurseries and schools make infection more likely. The risk of C-MRSAremains very low in the UK, with 100 cases being identified in the lastthree years. The risk is higher in the United States.
A spokesman for the HPA said, 'This is an update to the guidanceoriginally produced back in 2006, so that healthcare professionals haveup-to-date information on the diagnosis and management of theseinfections. The majority of PVL SA cases are not life-threatening.'
Further information:
Visit www.hpa.org.uk to respond to a consultation on the guidance by 28February.