Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) - an uninvited stowaway aboard a Royal Navy submarine.

The toxin Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) is a virulence factor produced by some strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, SA) that destroys leucocytes. PVL-SA predominantly results in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) but may also cause invasive disease, including necrotising pneumonia, which may affect healthy young individuals and has a high mortality. We describe a case of PVL-SA in a submariner who presented at sea and which resulted in a requirement to both alter the submarine's programme and undertake population screening. The case highlights many important issues pertinent to military populations including clinical and public health considerations.