Fig. 1

The livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus counts (CFU/mL) on steel and plastic surfaces over time. The points represent the viable counts within the quantification range (30–300 CFU) that were obtained from the samples; the lines represent the mean viable count of each material, strain and plate combination. a 5% bovine blood agar (BA) and selective Oxoid Brilliance MRSA 2 agar (MRSA). b selective MRSA plates from the same data. The counts from strain S1 steel sample on blood agar at week 14 are missing due to an error in sample preparation