Serotyping has never been used extensively for S.
aureus. Tests have been developed, particularly to
detect differences in the capsular polysaccharide and
the antigenic properties of coagulase. There are a
total of 11 S. aureus capsular types but 85–90% of
clinical isolates belong to just two of them.
Serological surveys have shown that it is rare to find
an MRSA which is not capsular type 5 or 8, with the
former being more common.16 Eight coagulase
serotypes have been described and used in Japan,
again with a predominance of two types.22With such
poor discriminatory ability this method has no role
in epidemiological studies.