Genotyping of 353 Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream isolates collected between 2004 and 2009 at a Norwegian university hospital and potential associations with clinical parameters.

We analyzed 353 Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream isolates from 2004 to 2009 to identify dominant genotypes, changes over time, and associations between genotype, phenotype, and clinical parameters. The isolates were genotyped with regard to spa type and presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1-encoding genes. A high level of genetic diversity was detected. All but three isolates were methicillin sensitive. Interestingly, spa clonal complex 021 showed a weak association with higher all-cause hospital mortality.