A Prospective Trial of Nasal Mupirocin, Hexachlorophene Body Wash, and Systemic Antibiotics for Prevention of Recurrent Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous pathogen, and causes infections of the skin, lung, bloodstream, and other body parts. Over the past decade,community-acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) infections, which were previously extremely rare, are occurring commonly worldwide. CA-MRSA is the most common cause of skin infection in many locales in the U.S.

CA-MRSA strains are notable for their ability to spread in closed settings and cause recurrent infections among healthy persons. Management of recurrent CA-MRSA infection is challenging and optimal prevention strategies are undefined. Many experts recommend topical agents that decontaminate the body and/or anterior nares. However, there are no data that quantify the efficacy and safety of this approach.

We conducted a prospective non-comparative clinical trial to quantify the efficacy and safety of body decolonization regimens in the prevention of CA-MRSA infection from an Infectious Diseases private practice group in Northern California.

The study population comprised of persons suffering from recurrent CA-MRSA infection. For this clinical trial, all subjects will be given: nasal mupirocin (Bactroban Nasal, twice daily), topical 3% hexachlorophene body wash (Phisohex, daily), and an oral anti-MRSA antibiotic. The choice of oral antibiotic was based on investigators choice and antibiotic susceptibility of prior MRSA isolates in a given patient.

Patients were interviewed in person baseline and by phone at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months using a standardized questionnaire. The baseline survey, based on a previously developed instrument used for an epidemiologic investigation of MRSA asked about MRSA risk factors and health-related quality of life. Follow up surveys asked about adverse drug effects, especially gastrointestinal and dermatologic side effects (2 week visit only) and incident skin and MRSA infections.

Inclusion criteria

recurrent MRSA infections and had greater than or equal to 2 MRSA infections in the 6 months prior to enrollment