Objective To investigate the contamination status and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in the environment of a hospital in Jiading District, Shanghai, and explore the detection and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) in environmental strains. Methods SA strains from environmental specimens from this hospital were isolated and identified, and subjected to antimicrobial resistance test against 15 common antimicrobial agents using the broth dilution method. The presence of the mecA gene in SA strains were detected. Results Among 936 hospital environmental specimens, 60 specimens were positive for SA, with an isolation rate of 6.41%. Among SA strains, the isolation rate of MRSA was 25.00%. The isolation rates of SA from the intensive care unit (ICU) and the respiratory department were 7.35% and 5.94%, respectively, while the isolation rates of MRSA were 3.51% and 0.64%, respectively. The isolation rate of SA from hospital computer mice and keyboards was the highest (17.14%), followed by hospital gowns, pillowcases, and bedside cupboards (all 16.67%). The highest isolation rates of MRSA in environmental specimens were found on soap (dishes) and hand sanitizer bottles, with rates of 7.69% and 6.25%, respectively. SA strains from hospital environmental specimens were all sensitive to 7 antimicrobial agents, including daptomycin, linezolid, furantoin, rifampicin, compound sulfamethoxazole, teicoplanin, and vancomycin. The antimicrobial resistance rates of MRSA to the other 8 antimicrobial agents were all higher than those of methicillin-sensitive SA (MSSA). Conclusion The proportion of MRSA within SA in the general ICU environment is higher than that in the respiratory department of this hospital. The specimens with high MRSA isolation rate and high SA isolation rate in the environmental specimens are inconsistent, and the antimicrobial resistance rate of MRSA is higher than that of MSSA. It is necessary to enhance the disinfection and control of SA and MRSA in the hospital, especially in the ICU, to avoid the increased antimicrobial resistance in SA.