Characteristics of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia associated with the presence or absence of the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene.

aHCAP, healthcare-associated pneumonia; HAP, hospital-acquired pneumonia; CAP, community-acquired pneumoniabAppropriate empiric therapy, treatment with vancomycin, linezolid, or clindamycin if the MRSA isolate was susceptible, in the 24-48 hrs prior to the availability of culture results.cVancomycin trough levels, among those treated with vancomycin and for whom vancomycin levels were available.dPFGE, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (145 isolates available for molecular typing).eVancomycin MIC, minimal inhibitory concentration (µg/mL) as determined by Etest (145 isolates available for susceptibility testing).