OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in areas close to patients in a General Intensive Care Unit. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, in which microbiological samples were collected from five surfaces (left / right bed siderails, bed crank, table, buttons on the infusion pump, and cotton gowns) from each of ten patient rooms, totaling 63 samples. To collect samples, the Petri FilmTM Staph Express Count System 3M TM was used to screen for methicillin resistance, with the Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 4% sodium chloride and 6 µg / ml of oxacillin. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the frequency (n) and percentage (%) of contamination of environmental surfaces. RESULTS: Of 48 samples positive for Staphylococcus aureus, 29 (60.4%) were resistant to methicillin. The incidence on the siderails and bed cranks, table, buttons on the infusion pumps and aprons were, respectively, 55.5%, 57.1%, 57.1%, 60.0% and 75.0%. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the surfaces around the patient constitute a major threat, as they represent secondary reservoirs of MRSA.