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Clearance of nasal Staphylococcus aureus colonization with triple antibiotic ointment

Elizabeth M Grossman1, Shivani Nanda, Jennifer R S Gordon

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|February 5, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Triple antibiotic ointment (TAO) showed a 53.3% decolonization rate for Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in healthcare workers. This offers a potential alternative where mupirocin resistance is a concern.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

  • Healthcare workers exhibit high Staphylococcus aureus colonization rates (30%), with methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) at 2.0%-8.5%.
  • Anterior nares are the primary site for S aureus colonization.
  • Mupirocin resistance necessitates alternative decolonization strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of triple antibiotic ointment (TAO) for nasal S aureus decolonization.
  • To assess TAO as an alternative to mupirocin in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

  • Nasal swabs were used to screen 216 adult healthcare workers for S aureus.
  • Positive subjects received 5 days of twice-daily intranasal TAO.
  • Decolonization was assessed via repeat nasal cultures one week post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • S aureus colonization was identified in 20.8% of participants (n=45), with MRSA in 1.4% (n=3).
  • Following TAO treatment, 16 out of 30 (53.3%) subjects achieved S aureus decolonization.
  • The observed S aureus colonization rate was lower than previously reported.

Conclusions:

  • Intranasal TAO demonstrates potential as a viable option for S aureus nasal decolonization.
  • TAO may be particularly useful in environments with increasing mupirocin resistance.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm TAO's efficacy and role in infection control.

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