Among 413 strains of S. aureus isolated from patients with chronic staphylococcal infections, from haemocultures in bacteriaemia andseptic conditions, fromgynaecological materials and nasal plugs of healthy carriers the authors detected the production of one or several types of enterotoxins in 124 strains (30.0%), production of TSST-1 in 19 strains (4.6%) and the concurrent production of enterotoxins and TSST-1 in 38 strains (9.2%). The highest ratio of toxigenic strains of S. aureus was found in departments (51.4%) and from hospitalized patients in blood cultures in bacteriaemias and septic conditions (41.2%). In a group of 184 strains from patients with chronic staphylococcal infection toxin production was proved in 49 strains (26.6%). Of 74 strains of S. aureus isolated from healthy carriers there were 16 toxigenic strains (21.6%). The most frequent type of enterotoxins were enterotoxins type A (26.7%) and C (24.4%). 21 strains (24.4%) produced more than one type of enterotoxins.

        Key words: Staphylococcus aureus – enterotoxins – TSST-1.