The study measured the effect that different humidities potentially achievable on a hospital ward have on survival of MRSA on hard surfaces. The investigation revealed that surface type had a greater effect on the rate of reduction of MRSA than that of humidity and that different types of disinfectant/detergent appear to have different efficacies on different surface/material types. This report and the work it describes were undertaken by the UK Health and Safety laboratory of the Department of health. Health & Safety Laboratory. Indoor and Built Environment 2006 (15) 1, 85-91.