Linezolid and clindamycin improve the outcome of severe, necrotizing pneumonia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).

The last decade has been characterized by the emergence of CA-MRSA strains associated with the production of Panton-Valentine leukocidin. We report a case of necrotizing pneumonia and septic shock caused by CA-MRSA, in which early recognition of the syndrome and appropriate treatment with two toxin-suppressing antibiotics improved the patient's outcome.