Abstract
Summary: The production of enterotoxin A and B by strains ofStaphylococcus aureusisolated from nasal swabs of healthy carriers, from lesions of hospital patients and from foods unconnected with outbreaks of food-poisoning was investigated. Sixty-six strains ofS. aureuswere obtained from human beings, two produced enterotoxin A, 45 produced enterotoxin B. seven produced enterotoxins A + B. Thirty-six strains were isolated from 111 samples of food, one produced enterotoxin A, 16 produced enterotoxin B. The relative incidence of A, B and A + B enterotoxigenicity was assessed.