Characterization of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) K. Brandt* 1 , A. Mellmann 1 , C. Jenke 1 , R. Köck 1 1 University Hospital Münster, Institute for Hygiene, Münster, Deutschland Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen and the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has become a major concern especially in healthcare settings.