Necrotizing pneumonia by community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Colombia

The emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) as a cause of severe infections has been described in the recent years. In 2006, the first report of skin and soft tissue infection by CA-MRSA was published in Colombia. Herein, two additional cases of CA-MRSA are reported with a clinical course characterized by rapid progression, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit and complication of pneumonia with the onset of empyema. Both adult patients developed acute renal failure, and were treated with linezolide; the subsequent clinical response showed adequate treatment response. Molecular characterization of the isolates indicated the presence of the mecA gene carrying the cassette SCCmec type IV and the production of the toxin panton-valentine leukocidin.