Pictures of the seven most abundant phenotypes (PTs). S. aureus strains were cultured on Columbia blood agar and Congo red agar (CRA) plates and are characterized by the following parameters: size, mucoidy, hemolysis, β-toxin, and pigmentation. CRA was used to facilitate the discrimination of mucoid isolates. Special characteristics for mucoid isolates on CRA are a pyramidal-shaped morphology with rough wrinkled edges and a dry crystalline consistency (PT30 and -15), while nonmucoid isolates appear as flat and smooth colonies with a more moist consistency (PT4, -7, -1, -6, and -22). PT4 is normal (n), nonmucoid (nm), hemolytic (h), β-toxin negative (-), and gray (g). PT7 is normal, nonmucoid, hemolytic, β-toxin positive (+), and gray. PT1 is normal, nonmucoid, nonhemolytic (nh), β-toxin negative, and gray. PT6 is normal, nonmucoid, hemolytic, β-toxin negative, and yellow (y). PT30 is an SCV, mucoid (m), hemolytic, β-toxin negative, and gray. PT22 is an SCV, nonmucoid, hemolytic, β-toxin negative, and gray. PT15 is normal, mucoid, hemolytic, β-toxin negative, and yellow.