Increased Community-Associated Infections Caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin–Negative MRSA, Shanghai, 2005–2014

: During 2005-2014, community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections increased in Shanghai, China. Most infections were caused by sequence type 59 S. aureus that lacked Panton-Valentine leukocidin. This finding challenges the notion that Panton-Valentine leukocidin is necessary for epidemiologic success of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus.