Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains in the French community and the proportion of Panton-Valentine (PVL)-MRSA. Design: A cross-sectional study was made during a 3-month period in 2003 through a network of private-sector, community-based medical laboratories selected throughout France: the Labville network. Each MRSA isolate was included and characterized by French National Reference Center for Staphylococci. The total number of S. aureus isolates was also collected. Results: Among the 283 patients infected or colonized by MRSA, 166 (59%) were considered as healthcare-associated, 14 (5%) as nursing-associated and 39 (14%) as community-acquired. The proportion of methicillin resistance among S. aureus was 14%. Taking into account the sampling design, the incidence of MRSA cases in French outpatients was estimated to be 0.50 [CI95%: 0.41-0.60] per 10,000 inhabitants. The molecular analysis confirmed that 80.6% belong to the Lyon clone, the most prevalent hospital MRSA clone spreading in France and 10.6% to a closely related clone. An emerging MRSA clone containing the tst1 gene was detected in six patients and the PVL-positive ST80 clone only in one, 22-year-old, patient. Conclusion: Most of MRSA cases diagnosed in the community in France, in 2003, were elderly with specific risk factors and harbored hospital strains. The prevalence of PVL-MRSA remained low. (R.A.)