Toxinogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus are implicated in a wide range of severe infections. Apart from toxic shock syndrome and toxic dermatitis (pemphigus neonatorum and staphylococcal scalded skin syn-drome), infections caused by staphylococci producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) háve recently become a concern. These infections affect primarily the skin and subcutaneous tissue, often with a long cli-nical course and finál necrosis. An even greater threat is posed by rapidly progressive hemorrhagic necroti-zing pneumonia reported also in young immunocompetent persons. Necrotizing pneumonia is associated with high death rates. Here we report a čase of fatal abscessing pneumonia in a healthy 22-year-old male. It was caused by a community oxacillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin. The infection had a rapidly fatal outcome: the patient died within 6 days, i.e. 2 days after admis-sion to hospital. As far as we know, such a čase has not yet been reported in the Czech literatuře.

        Key words: Toxinogenic S. aureus, MRSA, Panton-Valentine leukocidin, abscessing pneumonia