Treatment with mupirocin, chlorhexidine may reduce risk for S. aureus infections

The risk for nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus infections – especially the risk for deep surgical site infections – may be reduced by approximately 60% in patients treated with mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine gluconate-medicated soap, according to results of a study presented by Lonneke Bode, MD, of Erasmus Medical Center, Netherlands.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, Bode and her colleagues assessed whether the decolonization of S. aureus with mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine gluconate medicated soap reduced the risk for nosocomial S. aureus infection in carriers.

The researchers collected nasal swabs from 6,771 patients at hospital admission. The intention-to-treat analysis included 917 patients who tested positive for S. aureus. Primary outcome measures were incidence of nosocomial S. aureus in the patient population.

Results indicated the rate for S. aureus infection was 3.4% in the treatment group and in 7.7% of patients in the placebo group.

According to the researchers, the largest effect was seen in deep surgical site infections – 1.1% in the treatment group vs. 4.9% in the placebo group.

Presented at: ICAAC/IDSA joint meeting. Oct. 25-28, 2008. Washington, DC.