A total of 161 Staphylococcus aureus strains grown in Hottinger's broth and semi-starvation medium (1% peptone water with 1% glycerol) were phage-typed. 107 (66.4 +/- 3.1%) of the 161 cultures grown in the semi-starvation medium could be typed and only 77 (48.1 +/- 3.63%) of the 161 grown in Hottinger's broth, which fact speaks in favor of semi-starvation nutrient media employment for phage-typing of S. aureus.