Outbreak of a South West Pacific clone Panton–Valentine leucocidin-positive meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a UK neonatal intensive care unit

Background

Panton–Valentine leucocidin-positive meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MRSA) has become a globally common cause of community-acquired infections.

Aim

We report an outbreak of PVL-MRSA in a regional neonatal unit in the UK involving three babies and three staff members.

Methods

Quinolone susceptibility was helpful in identifying potential PVL-MRSA but toxin gene profiling and sequence-based typing were required to distinguish between two PVL-MRSA strains present in the unit.

Findings

All three symptomatic babies and two staff carriers, one of whom was symptomatic, were found to be carrying the South West Pacific (SWP) clone of PVL-MRSA (ST30). One of the staff carriers had recently visited the Philippines and was thought to be the source of the outbreak. Control was established using standard infection control procedures but one baby with relapsing MRSA colonization has required more than 100 days in isolation.

Conclusion

This is the first reported neonatal outbreak associated with the SWP clone in the UK. Our study highlights the potential risk of further introductions of this organism by healthcare staff or patients epidemiologically linked with the Philippines.