Download (PVL) Staphylococcus aureus - Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL)
Staphylococcus aureus
What is PVL Staphylococcus aureus?
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium (germ) that can live on healthy skin and in the nose.
About one third of healthy people carry it quite harmlessly, usually on moist surfaces such as
the nostrils, armpits and groin. This is known as colonisation.
Some strains of Staphylococcus aureus produce a toxin called Panton-Valentine Leukocidin
(PVL) and they are known as PVL-SA
PVL can be produced by both meticillin sensitive (MSSA) and meticillin resistant (MRSA)
Staphylococcus aureus.
What type of illness does it cause?
Staphylococcus aureus commonly causes recurrent skin infections, boils and skin abscesses.
They can, however, on very rare occasions, lead to more severe infections, such as blood
infections, pneumonia.
How do you catch PVL-SA?
PVL-SA infections can be spread easily in settings where individuals are in close physical
contact or may share towels e.g. families/households, education settings (including nurseries),
close contact sports, gym equipment.
Why do people get PVL-SA infection?
Not all patients with PVL-SA will develop an infection. When these occur they are usually
associated with the presence of risk factors, such as skin abrasions resulting from close contact
sports, or using contaminated items such as a shared towel and razors or poor hand hygiene.
How is PVL-SA treated?
Boils and abscesses will usually need to be incised and drained. Most infection will be treated
with antibiotics. In addition, a five day course of skin treatment (washes and cream) will be
necessary to reduce the chances of repeated infections. The skin treatment is referred to as
decolonisation therapy.
How do I prevent passing PVL-SA to other people?
Keep infected areas covered with a clean, dry dressing. Change these as soon as discharge
seeps to the surface. Do not touch or squeeze infected skin. This contaminates your hands and
can push the PVL-SA deeper into the skin.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after changing plasters/ dressings or
touching infected skin.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, particularly if you have a
cold, because PVL-SA can live in your nose. Throw the tissue in a bin at once and wash your
hands.
Use a separate towel and do not allow others to use it. Have it washed frequently in a hot wash
(60°).
At home it is recommended to regularly vacuum and dust (wiping with a damp cloth) all rooms
and shared items such as telephones, computer keyboards etc.
Household detergent is adequate for cleaning. Clean your sink, taps and bath after use with a
disposable cloth and detergent, rinse clean and then throw the cloth away.
Can I go to work/school when I have a PVL-SA infection?
You should not work in a nursery, hospital, residential or nursing home or in the food industry
until your skin has healed and you have permission to return to work from your Occupational
Health Department or GP.
You may carry on with other types of work provided you keep infected skin areas covered with a
clean, dry dressing. If you are unsure about working contact your Occupational Health
Department, GP or manager.
Children can go to school if they are old enough to understand the importance of good hand
hygiene and their infected skin is covered with a clean, dry dressing that will stay dry and in
place all day.
Infected individuals should not take part in contact sports or use communal gym equipment until
their skin is healed.
People who have eczema or a more generalised skin condition should remain off work until
treatment has been completed for the eczema/skin condition and the PVL-SA infection.
How do I prevent becoming infected again?
You should take good care of your skin. Keep all cuts and/or grazes clean, cover with a dry
dressing until scabbed over or healed. Shower of bathe daily. Put on clean clothes daily and
wash bed linen and towels regularly at the highest temperature the material will allow.
Only go to shared facilities such as gyms when your skin lesions have healed and put a towel
between your skin and the equipment. Importantly, shower afterwards and use a new towel to
dry yourself. Wash any towels taken to a shared facility after each visit.
Seek medical advice at the first sign of infection in a cut, such as redness, swelling, pain or pus.
Always tell healthcare professionals looking after you that you have had a PVL-SA infection.
September 2014 © Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior
permission in writing from Infection Control, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.