Figure 1

Surfaces testing positive for MRSA in ward A of the equine hospital. Samples from July 2008. Dots denote positive environmental samples: Yellow - door knobs, Blue - ISO, Turquoise - cribs and salt stones, Brownish-red - sling/traverse (see also Table 2). Some dots represent pooled samples e.g. in the lameness run-up, one cloth was used in 21 door knobs making one pooled sample and in Stall A several salt stones + cribs were sampled with one cloth. Green area is the surgery unit. The smaller green area is 'room 3' for standing surgery procedures. The pinkish-brown squares are stalls housing MRSA-positive horses during the outbreak. 1 - Stable A, 2 - arrow towards ward B, 3 - stable yard, 4 - isolation unit in ward A, 5 - front desk, 6 - main entrance, 7 - lameness run-up corridor.