Unusually High Prevalence of Nosocomial Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Isolates in Cape Verde Islands

Abstract

Characterization of nosocomial methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Cape Verde showed that (i) Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes were present in 35% of the isolates and (ii) half of the collection had the same genetic background as methicillin-resistant pandemic clones. Introduction of the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) into virulent and epidemic isolates could pose serious threats to public health.