Bacitracin versus mupirocin for Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Healthcare workers (HCWs) can carry Staphylococcus aureus in their nasal passages.
• Nasal colonization by S. aureus poses a risk for transmission and infection.
• Effective strategies are needed to eliminate S. aureus nasal carriage in HCWs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of topical mupirocin versus bacitracin for S. aureus nasal decolonization.
• To evaluate the eradication rates of S. aureus in HCWs after a 5-day treatment course.
• To assess the durability of S. aureus eradication at 30 days post-treatment.

Main Methods:

• A randomized prospective study was conducted.
• 141 healthcare workers were screened for S. aureus nasal colonization.
• Participants received a 5-day treatment with either topical mupirocin or bacitracin.

Main Results:

• S. aureus was present in 37% of HCWs.
• Mupirocin achieved eradication in 94% of cases (15/16) within 3-4 days.
• Bacitracin achieved eradication in 44% of cases (8/18), a statistically significant difference (P = .0031).
• Similar efficacy rates were observed at the 30-day follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Topical mupirocin is significantly more effective than bacitracin for eradicating S. aureus nasal colonization in HCWs.
• Mupirocin offers a highly effective treatment option for S. aureus decolonization in this population.
• The findings support mupirocin as a preferred agent for reducing S. aureus carriage among healthcare professionals.