Frequency of distribution of virulence genes among MRSA and MSSA isolates according to institution.

<p>Abbreviations: <i>sea</i>, <i>seb</i>, <i>sec</i>, <i>sed</i> and <i>see</i>: staphylococcal enterotoxin genes A–E; <i>eta</i> and <i>etb</i>: exfo-liative toxin genes A and B; <i>tst</i>: toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 gene; <i>lukS/F-PVL</i>: Panton-Valentine Leucocidine.</p

Genetic relatedness among MRSA isolates.

<p>UPGMA dendrogram showing genetic relatedness among MRSA isolates as determined by PFGE with <i>Sma</i>I. The broken line corresponds to the cutoff level (80%) used to define related PFGE clones. Note that CC8 MRSA isolates form a separate cluster by PFGE and were genetically related to infectious MRSA strains previously reported in the city.</p

Genetic relatedness among MSSA isolates from (A) day care centers and (B) hospital.

<p>UPGMA dendrogram showing genetic relatedness among MSSA isolates as determined by PFGE with <i>Sma</i>I. The broken line corresponds to the cut off level (80%) used to define related PFGE clones.</p

Epidemiological characteristics of <i>S. aureus</i>-colonized children in the overall population and by institution (hospital - day care centers).

<p>Significant differences (<i>p</i><0.05) are shown in bold. Chi-square test^a, Fisher's exact test^b, likelihood ratio test^c, Mann–Whitney U tests^d. Variable evaluated only in hospitalized children^e.</p

Molecular characteristics of MRSA isolates.

a<p>The most prevalent clonal complexes and <i>spa</i> types are shown in boldface, defined by Ridom or e- genomics.</p>b<p>Number and percentage of isolates with a specific clonal complex (CC), <i>spa</i> type and SCC<i>mec</i> type combination.</p>c<p>Colonization with multiple <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> strains with different <i>spa</i> type. NT: non-typeable, H: hospital, D: Day care centers.</p

Percentage distribution of virulence genes according to <i>agr</i> type in <i>S. aureus</i> isolates.

<p>Abbreviations: <i>sea</i>, <i>seb</i>, <i>sec</i>, <i>sed</i> and <i>see</i>: staphylococcal enterotoxin genes A–E; <i>eta</i> and <i>etb</i>: exfo-liative toxin genes A and B; <i>tst</i>: toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 gene; <i>lukS/F-PVL</i>: Panton-Valentine Leucocidine genes.</p

Bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors associated with <i>S. aureus</i>- colonized children in the overall population.

<p>Bivariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors associated with <i>S. aureus</i>- colonized children in the overall population.</p