mupirocin and Cross-Infection

Staphylococcus aureus infections are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and health care costs. S aureus colonization has been shown to increase risk for invasive and noninvasive infections. Decolonization of S aureus has been evaluated in multiple patient settings as a possible strategy to decrease the risk of S aureus transmission and infection. In this article, we review the recent literature on S aureus decolonization in surgical patients, patients with recurrent skin and soft tissue infections, critically ill patients, hospitalized non-critically ill patients, dialysis patients, and nursing home residents to inform clinical practice.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Chlorhexidine; Critical Illness; Cross Infection; Dialysis; Drug Administration Routes; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nursing Homes; Soft Tissue Infections; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens causing nosocomial and community-acquired infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Mupirocin has been increasingly used for treatment of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus (MuRSA), mupirocin-resistant MRSA (MuRMRSA), high-level MuRSA (HLMuRSA) and high-level MuRMRSA (HLMuRMRSA) worldwide.. Online databases including Medline, Embase and Web of Science were searched (2000-2018) to identify studies addressing the prevalence of MuRSA, MuRMRSA, HLMuRSA and HLMuRMRSA. STATA v. software was used to interpret the data.. Of the 2243 records identified from the databases, 30 and 63 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria for MuRSA and MuRMRSA, respectively. Finally, 27 and 60 studies were included separately for HLMuRSA and HLMuRMRSA, respectively. The analyses revealed pooled and averaged prevalences of MuRSA, MuRMRSA, HLMuRSA and HLMuRMRSA of 7.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.2-9.0%], 13.8% (95% CI 12.0-15.6%), 8.5% (95% CI 6.3-10.7%) and 8.1% (95% CI 6.8-9.4%), respectively.. Overall, these results show a global increase in the prevalence of HLMuRSA and HLMuRMRSA among clinical S. aureus isolates over time. However, there was only a significant increase in the prevalence of MuRMRSA compared with the other categories, especially MuRSA. Since mupirocin remains the most effective antibiotic for MSSA and MRSA decolonisation both in patients and healthcare personnel, a reduction of its effectiveness presents a risk for invasive infection. Monitoring of mupirocin resistance development remains critical.

Topics: Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Staphylococcal Infections

Hospital-acquired infections cause up to 19% of infections in paediatric patients contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This review evaluates the effect of decolonization and decontamination in hospitalized children and neonates as an adjunct to standard infection control measures.. Few studies on decolonization and decontamination are available in children. The evidence about the effectiveness of daily chlorhexidine washcloths on bacteraemia in paediatric patients relies on a single randomized controlled trial, in neonates with central venous access in a single retrospective observational study. It is uncertain whether nasal mupirocin reduces methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage and infections in neonates, whereas oral chlorhexidine mouthwashes have not proven effective in children in intensive care settings. Scanty evidence demonstrates a reduction in the rate of ventilation-acquired pneumonia with digestive tract decontamination in paediatric patients and no studies are available in neonates. These strategies have not been extensively tested in resource-poor countries.. Strong evidence about the efficacy of decolonization and decontamination interventions exists in adult medicine but not in paediatric patients. There is an urgent need to understand how these interventions could be adapted to neonates and resource-poor settings in which the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections is higher.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Decontamination; Digestive System; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Staphylococcal Infections

The objectives of this study were to estimate the relative transmissibility of mupirocin-resistant (MupR) and mupirocin-susceptible (MupS) MRSA strains and evaluate the long-term impact of MupR on MRSA control policies.. Parameters describing MupR and MupS strains were estimated using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods applied to data from two London teaching hospitals. These estimates parameterized a model used to evaluate the long-term impact of MupR on three mupirocin usage policies: 'clinical cases', 'screen and treat' and 'universal'. Strategies were assessed in terms of colonized and infected patient days and scenario and sensitivity analyses were performed.. The transmission probability of a MupS strain was 2.16 (95% CI 1.38-2.94) times that of a MupR strain in the absence of mupirocin usage. The total prevalence of MupR in colonized and infected MRSA patients after 5 years of simulation was 9.1% (95% CI 8.7%-9.6%) with the 'screen and treat' mupirocin policy, increasing to 21.3% (95% CI 20.9%-21.7%) with 'universal' mupirocin use. The prevalence of MupR increased in 50%-75% of simulations with 'universal' usage and >10% of simulations with 'screen and treat' usage in scenarios where MupS had a higher transmission probability than MupR.. Our results provide evidence from a clinical setting of a fitness cost associated with MupR in MRSA strains. This provides a plausible explanation for the low levels of mupirocin resistance seen following 'screen and treat' mupirocin usage. From our simulations, even under conservative estimates of relative transmissibility, we see long-term increases in the prevalence of MupR given 'universal' use.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infection Control; London; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Models, Statistical; Mupirocin; Organizational Policy; Prevalence; Staphylococcal Infections

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a gene that makes it resistant to methicillin as well as to other beta-lactam antibiotics, including flucloxacillin, beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. MRSA can be part of the normal body flora (colonisation), especially in the nose, but it can cause infection. Until recently, MRSA has primarily been a problem associated with exposure to the healthcare system, especially in people with prolonged hospital admissions, with underlying disease, or after antibiotic use. In many countries worldwide, a preponderance of S aureus bloodstream isolates are resistant to methicillin.. We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatment for MRSA nasal or extra-nasal colonisation? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to January 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).. We found 9 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria.. In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: antiseptic body washes, chlorhexidine-neomycin nasal cream, mupirocin nasal ointment, systemic antimicrobials, tea tree oil preparations, and other topical antimicrobials.

Topics: Administration, Oral; beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; Cross Infection; Humans; Incidence; Methicillin Resistance; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Tea Tree Oil

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria are a common cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections. Persons may have asymptomatic colonization with MRSA in the nares, axillae, perineum, or groin. Since MRSA colonization often precedes infection, and infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, there is great interest in preventing the transmission of MRSA and decolonizing persons who harbor these bacteria. We provide an evidence-based review of MRSA decolonization agents. Our search strategy included the databases of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (1962-May 2008), and EMBASE (1980-May 2008). To identify unpublished trials, abstract books from appropriate major scientific meetings were hand searched, manufacturers were contacted, and pharmacology references were researched for available commercial products, formulations, adverse events, and dosing. The most extensive research in MRSA decolonization has been conducted with mupirocin, which is applied to the anterior nares 2-3 times/day for 5 days. Increased use is correlated to resistance development; therefore, routine decolonization is not prudent unless MRSA colonization is confirmed in the nares or other site. Retapamulin is under investigation for use in nares decolonization. If total body decolonization is necessary, bathing or showering with an antiseptic agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate is recommended in combination with mupirocin applied to the nares to improve the likelihood of eradication. Oral antibiotics have been evaluated for use in decolonization of the skin and nares but should be considered only in conjunction with topical agents and when all other decolonization attempts and environmental controls have been exhausted. Homeopathic and investigational agents may also be effective. Although mupirocin is the standard of care for decolonization of MRSA, several agents demonstrate efficacy and many merit further investigation.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

Staphylococcus aureus in the nose is a risk factor for endogenous staphylococcal infection. UK guidelines recommend the use of mupirocin for nasal decolonization in certain groups of patients colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Mupirocin is effective at removing S. aureus from the nose over a few weeks, but relapses are common within several months. There are only a few prospective randomized clinical trials that have been completed with sufficient patients, but those that have been reported suggest that clearance of S. aureus from the nose is beneficial in some patient groups for the reduction in the incidence of nosocomial infections. There is no convincing evidence that mupirocin treatment reduces the incidence of surgical site infection. New antibiotics are needed to decolonize the nose because bacterial resistance to mupirocin is rising, and so it will become less effective. Furthermore, a more bactericidal antibiotic than mupirocin is needed, on the grounds that it might reduce the relapse rate, and so clear the patient of MRSA for a longer period of time than mupirocin.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cross Infection; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Staphylococcal Infections; United Kingdom

The present review describes the literature about the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infections in surgery, published from August 2006 to January 2008, and puts it into perspective.. To prevent Staphylococcus aureus infections after surgical procedures, three methods were described, that is, isolation precautions after methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening, vancomycin as an antibiotic prophylaxis in patients at risk for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and topical decolonization of carriage. Identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers can be treated with the appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Topical decolonization with chlorhexidine gluconate resulted in a reduced overall nosocomial infection rate, but no effect was found on the Staphylococcus aureus infection rate. Topical decolonization with mupirocin reduced the overall Staphylococcus aureus infection rate after surgery in Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriers.. The treatment of proven carriers of Staphylococcus aureus with mupirocin is an effective method to prevent Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infections after surgery. Cost-analysis studies show that this screen-and-treat approach is cost saving as long as the prevalence of mupirocin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is low. The effect of chlorhexidine gluconate on the Staphylococcus aureus infection rate in carriers should be determined in future studies.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Chemoprevention; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Mupirocin; Patient Isolation; Staphylococcal Infections; Surgical Wound Infection; Vancomycin

Multidrug-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are endemic in healthcare settings in the United States and many other countries of the world. Nosocomial transmission of MRSA serves as a source of hospital outbreaks, and recent reports of vancomycin-resistant S aureus strains in the United States emphasize the need for better control of MRSA and other resistant bacteria within healthcare settings. Colonization with S aureus or MRSA is relatively common in both healthy and hospitalized individuals, most often involves the anterior nares, and is frequently asymptomatic. Colonization increases risk of infection. Patient-to-patient transmission of MRSA within healthcare settings primarily occurs via carriage on the hands of healthcare workers. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has developed guidelines for the prevention of transmission of MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci within healthcare settings, and chief among the recommendations is an emphasis on adherence to hand hygiene guidelines. Other measures that may prevent the nosocomial transmission of MRSA include improved antibiotic stewardship, staff cohorting, maintenance of appropriate staffing ratios, reductions in length of hospital stays, contact isolation, active microbiologic surveillance, and better staff education. Currently, the efficacy of many of these individual infection control interventions remain in doubt. Many studies reporting improvement in infection control outcomes (e.g., reduced transmission, decreasing prevalence) involve simultaneous institution of several of these measures, making it impossible to tease out the effects of any of the individual components. Nonetheless, the best approach in the current environment probably involves hand hygiene plus a careful assessment of an institution's particular circumstances, applying more aggressive procedures such as patient isolation, staff cohorting, and active surveillance cultures, as indicated.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Length of Stay; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Patient Isolation; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

For the prevention of perioperative nosocomial infection, 1) topical mupirocin treatment, 2) tight perioperative glycemic control and 3) immunonutrition are described. A large, prospective, randomized trial showed that the nasal application of mupirocin may effectively reduce postoperative Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infection in the subgroup of patients who had S. aureus in their nares. Tight glycemic control after surgery, especially in the early period after operation, may also be effective in decreasing postoperative infection. In septic ICU patients, strict glycemic control even reduces ICU and hospital mortality rates. Several specific nutritional substrates such as arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, and RNA have been shown to modulate host immune function. Some enteral formulas enriched with such immunonutrients have been commercially available in the USA and in Europe and are now available in Japan. Recent meta-analyses of randomized, controlled trials have shown that the administration of these formulas to elective surgical patients results in a significant reduction in the risk of developing infectious complications by approximately 50% and shortens the overall hospital stay.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Arginine; Cross Infection; Enteral Nutrition; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Glutamine; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Immunocompromised Host; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Perioperative Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; RNA; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Postoperative nosocomial infections are associated with increased cost, hospitalization, and morbidity. S. aureus is the most common organism that contributes to postoperative nosocomial infections, and causes up to 25% of these infections. The role of the nose as a reservoir for S. aureus and possible subsequent endogenous infections has been recognized for approximately 40 years. Elimination of nasal carriage of S. aureus may be another intervention aimed at reducing postoperative infections. Mupirocin, a topical antibiotic effective against Gram-positive organisms, was proved to be effective in reducing the rates of nasal colonization of S. aureus and decreased postoperative nosocomial infections due to S. aureus.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Postoperative Complications; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection; Treatment Outcome

Health care-related infections cause significant patient morbidity and mortality rates and add excess costs that frequently are not reimbursed. Staphylococcus aureus has long been recognized as an important pathogen in human disease and is the most common cause of nosocomial infections.. The objective of this review of the English language literature and a MEDLINE search was to describe recent advances in the prevention of S aureus health care-related infections that are attributable to patients' endogenous colonization. The ecologic niche of S aureus is the anterior nares and nasal carriage increases the risk of the development of a surgical-site, lower respiratory tract, or bloodstream infection. S aureus carriers have a 2- to 9-fold increased risk of the development of a surgical-site or intravenous catheter infection.. Three treatment strategies may eliminate nasal carriage: locally applied antibiotics or disinfectants, systemic antibiotics, and bacterial interference. Among these strategies, locally applied or systemic antibiotics are used most commonly. Nasal ointments or sprays and oral antibiotics have variable efficacy, and their use frequently results in antimicrobial resistance among S aureus strains. Of the commonly used agents, mupirocin (pseudomonic acid) ointment has been shown to be 97% effective in reducing S aureus nasal carriage. In a recently published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether intranasal mupirocin reduced the rate of S aureus-infected surgical-site and other S aureus health care-related infections; 4% of S aureus nasal carriers who received mupirocin acquired S aureus health care-related infections compared with 7.7% of S aureus nasal carriers who received placebo (P=.02). The S aureus surgical-site infection rate was not reduced significantly, but carriers who received mupirocin before cardiothoracic or general surgery operations had almost 50% fewer S aureus surgical-site infections than carriers who received placebo. In this setting resistance rarely has been reported.. Given the importance of S aureus nosocomial infections and the increased risk of S aureus nasal carriage in patients with health care-related infections, investigators must study cost-effective strategies to further prevent certain types of health care-related infections or nosocomial infections that occur in specific settings. One potential strategy is to decrease or eliminate S aureus nasal carriage among certain patient populations or in certain healthcare settings.

Topics: Carrier State; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Mupirocin; Nose; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Mupirocin; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections continue to cause serious nosocomial infections in many hospitals. Measures used to control the spread of these infections include ongoing laboratory-based surveillance, placing colonized and infected patients in isolation, use of barrier precautions and handwashing and hand antisepsis. Culturing hospitalized patients at high risk of acquiring MRSA can facilitate detection and isolation of colonized patients. Eradicating MRSA nasal colonization among affected patients and healthcare personnel has also been as a control measure, with variable success. Eradicating MRSA nasal carriage from epidemiologically-implicated healthcare workers has been used on a number of occasions to control outbreaks. Attempts to eradicate MRSA colonization among affected patients has proven difficult. Of more than 40 different decolonization regimens that have been tested during the last 60 years, topical intranasal application of mupirocin ointment has proven to be the most effective. However, intranasal application of mupirocin has limited effectiveness in eradicating colonization in patients who carry the organism at multiple body sites. Furthermore, because decolonization of patients has virtually always been used in combination with other control measures, its efficacy has been difficult to determine. Because MRSA is transmitted primarily on the hands of healthcare workers, greater emphasis should be given to improving hand hygiene practices among health personnel. For patients infected with MRSA, vancomycin remains a drug of choice.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Hand Disinfection; Health Personnel; Humans; Infection Control; Mass Screening; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Occupational Diseases; Ointments; Patient Isolation; Population Surveillance; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

20% of the normal population are nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), and the carrier rate is even higher in insulin dependent diabetics, intravenous drug addicts, patients on haemo- and peritoneal dialysis, and HIV infected patients. Nasal Sa carriers have an increased risk of Sa infections following invasive therapy. Mupirocin, a novel topical antibiotic, is highly effective against nasal Sa. A number of studies indicate that it may reduce the incidence of Sa infections in dialysis patients, however experience with other categories of patients is sparse. Surgical wound infection with Sa is a particularly serious complication after implantation of foreign body material, e.g. artificial joints. There is a need for controlled clinical trials to test the efficacy of mupirocin in eradicating Sa in these types of patients. Uncritical use of mupirocin for topical treatment of wounds should be avoided in order to prevent development of resistance.

Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Denmark; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Renal Dialysis; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

Mupirocin has become the topical agent of choice for the elimination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage. The increased use of this antibiotic has been followed by reports of outbreaks due to MRSA with both low- and high-level resistance. Whilst low-level resistance is becoming more widespread, it is unlikely to have a major impact upon current practice. High-level resistance is plasmid borne, and although uncommon, can lead to problems with elimination especially in an outbreak situation. Alternatives are available but uncertainty exists as to their efficacy and safety. Any strategy to limit the increase of mupirocin resistance in MRSA should emphasize the importance of controlled antibiotic use both for mupirocin and other agents.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Drug Utilization; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; R Factors; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; United Kingdom

The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and dosage and administration of mupirocin are reviewed. Mupirocin is a naturally occurring antibiotic produced by submerged fermentation of Pseudomonas fluorescens. It inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding reversibly and specifically to isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. Organisms resistant to other antimicrobials are not simultaneously resistant to mupirocin. Mupirocin is highly active against Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococci and streptococci. When mupirocin ointment is applied topically, local concentrations exceed the inhibitory concentrations for staphylococci and remain detectable for up to 72 hours. Placebo-controlled studies demonstrate the ability of mupirocin to eliminate nasal carriage of S. aureus in health care workers. Observational studies suggest that mupirocin is efficacious in treating methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) outbreaks. Preliminary studies show that mupirocin might have a role in preventing infections in high-risk patients. Although mupirocin seems to be well tolerated, mild to moderate adverse events have been reported, including respiratory problems and effects confined to the nose--erythema, swelling, burning or stinging, pruritus, and dryness. Mupirocin calcium ointment has FDA-approved labeling for the eradication of nasal MRSA colonization in adult patients and health care workers as part of comprehensive infection-control programs to reduce the risk of infection during institutional outbreaks. The recommended dosage is 0.5 g inserted into each nostril twice daily for five days. Intranasal mupirocin ointment appears to be a useful addition to infection-control programs designed to reduce the risk of infection among patients during MRSA outbreaks.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Rhinitis; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Nasal carriage by health care workers represents an important hospital reservoir of Staphylococcus aureus. Approximately 25% of all hospital-based healthcare workers are stable nasal carriers. Several studies in the US and UK have shown that following treatment of this group with a single 5-day course of intranasal mupirocin, nasal carriage was usually eradicated within 24 hours, and after 12 weeks was only present in 25% of participants. Long-term follow-up in one institution after 52 weeks showed that there were significantly fewer carriers in the mupirocin group than in the group receiving identical placebo. In the same study, between 30% and 50% of those hospital workers who carried S. aureus in their nose, before the start of therapy, were also hand carriers. After treatment, a dramatic reduction in hand carriage of S. aureus was noted, in contrast to no change in the placebo group. After 6 months, the level of hand carriage was still statistically lower in the mupirocin group than in those given placebo. The association between nasal carriage and hand carriage makes it important that health care workers decontaminate their hands effectively between patients. Current evidence suggests, however, that compliance with such control measures is low. Other studies examining the role of S. aureus nasal carriage in the development of post-operative wound infection, have shown that almost half of those isolates recovered from the wound site were present in the nose of the patient pre-operatively. Due to its ability to eliminate nasal carriage of S. aureus, current studies are investigating whether intranasal mupirocin can prevent post-operative wound infections in patients undergoing surgery.

Topics: Cross Infection; Hand; Health Personnel; Humans; Incidence; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nose; Staphylococcal Infections; Surgical Wound Infection; United States

This review summarizes the natural history, clinical relevance and basis of control of Staphylococcus aureus infection in UK hospitals, stressing the central role of asymptomatic carriage by patients and staff in persistence of this prolific and versatile nosocomial pathogen. The clinical relevance of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MRSA and MSSA) is considered in terms of prevalence and spectrum of invasive and toxigenic infections produced, correlated with host and parasite risk factors. An assessment is made of arguments why the acquisition of methicillin-resistance or multiple antibiotic resistance might justify more than conventional methods of containment and how the control policy is influenced by the expression of enhanced virulence and epidemicity. Guidelines for control of epidemic MRSA (EMRSA) are discussed with reference to justification, feasibility and efficacy. As elimination of carriage is crucial to the success of any rational control policy the relative merits of topical antibiotics and antiseptic agents are compared. The bacterial efficacy of povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine and mupirocin are evaluated as a basis for eradication of MRSA.

Topics: Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Povidone-Iodine; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Universal nasal mupirocin plus chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing in intensive care units (ICUs) prevents methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and all-cause bloodstream infections. Antibiotic resistance to mupirocin has raised questions about whether an antiseptic could be advantageous for ICU decolonization.. To compare the effectiveness of iodophor vs mupirocin for universal ICU nasal decolonization in combination with CHG bathing.. Two-group noninferiority, pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial conducted in US community hospitals, all of which used mupirocin-CHG for universal decolonization in ICUs at baseline. Adult ICU patients in 137 randomized hospitals during baseline (May 1, 2015-April 30, 2017) and intervention (November 1, 2017-April 30, 2019) were included.. Universal decolonization involving switching to iodophor-CHG (intervention) or continuing mupirocin-CHG (baseline).. ICU-attributable S aureus clinical cultures (primary outcome), MRSA clinical cultures, and all-cause bloodstream infections were evaluated using proportional hazard models to assess differences from baseline to intervention periods between the strategies. Results were also compared with a 2009-2011 trial of mupirocin-CHG vs no decolonization in the same hospital network. The prespecified noninferiority margin for the primary outcome was 10%.. Among the 801 668 admissions in 233 ICUs, the participants' mean (SD) age was 63.4 (17.2) years, 46.3% were female, and the mean (SD) ICU length of stay was 4.8 (4.7) days. Hazard ratios (HRs) for S aureus clinical isolates in the intervention vs baseline periods were 1.17 for iodophor-CHG (raw rate: 5.0 vs 4.3/1000 ICU-attributable days) and 0.99 for mupirocin-CHG (raw rate: 4.1 vs 4.0/1000 ICU-attributable days) (HR difference in differences significantly lower by 18.4% [95% CI, 10.7%-26.6%] for mupirocin-CHG, P < .001). For MRSA clinical cultures, HRs were 1.13 for iodophor-CHG (raw rate: 2.3 vs 2.1/1000 ICU-attributable days) and 0.99 for mupirocin-CHG (raw rate: 2.0 vs 2.0/1000 ICU-attributable days) (HR difference in differences significantly lower by 14.1% [95% CI, 3.7%-25.5%] for mupirocin-CHG, P = .007). For all-pathogen bloodstream infections, HRs were 1.00 (2.7 vs 2.7/1000) for iodophor-CHG and 1.01 (2.6 vs 2.6/1000) for mupirocin-CHG (nonsignificant HR difference in differences, -0.9% [95% CI, -9.0% to 8.0%]; P = .84). Compared with the 2009-2011 trial, the 30-day relative reduction in hazards in the mupirocin-CHG group relative to no decolonization (2009-2011 trial) were as follows: S aureus clinical cultures (current trial: 48.1% [95% CI, 35.6%-60.1%]; 2009-2011 trial: 58.8% [95% CI, 47.5%-70.7%]) and bloodstream infection rates (current trial: 70.4% [95% CI, 62.9%-77.8%]; 2009-2011 trial: 60.1% [95% CI, 49.1%-70.7%]).. Nasal iodophor antiseptic did not meet criteria to be considered noninferior to nasal mupirocin antibiotic for the outcome of S aureus clinical cultures in adult ICU patients in the context of daily CHG bathing. In addition, the results were consistent with nasal iodophor being inferior to nasal mupirocin.. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03140423.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Iodophors; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic; Sepsis; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; United States

The purpose of this study was to determine if a decolonization regimen reduces the frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and if colonization isolates are genetically related to subsequent infectious strains. Trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit with positive MRSA nasal swabs were randomized to either daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) baths and mupirocin (MUP) ointment to the nares or soap and water baths and placebo ointment for five days. Nasal swabs performed at the end of treatment and invasive MRSA infections during the remaining hospitalization were compared with the original nasal isolate via polymerase chain reaction for genetic relatedness as well as CHG and MUP resistance genes. Six hundred and seventy-eight intensive care unit admissions were screened, and 92 (13.6%) had positive (+) MRSA nasal swabs over a 22-month period ending in 3/2014. After the five day treatment period, there were 13 (59.1%) +MRSA second nasal swabs for CHG + MUP and 9 (90%) for soap and water baths and placebo, P = 0.114. No isolates tested positive for the MUP or CHG resistance genes mupA and qacA/B but 7 of 20 (35%) contained smr. There were seven (31.8%) MRSA infections in the CHG group and six (60%) for soap, P = 0.244. All 13 patients with MRSA infections had the same MRSA isolate present in the original nasal swab. There was no difference in all-cause Gram-negative or positive infections for CHG versus soap, 12 (54.5%) versus 7 (70%), P = 0.467. CHG + MUP are ineffective in eradicating MRSA from the anterior nares but may reduce the incidence of infection. Subsequent invasive MRSA infections are typically caused by the endogenous colonization strain.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Bacterial Proteins; Baths; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Trauma Centers; Treatment Outcome

Challenges exist in implementing evidence-based strategies, reaching high compliance, and achieving desired outcomes. The rapid adoption of a publicly available toolkit featuring routine universal decolonization of intensive care unit (ICU) patients may affect catheter-related bloodstream infections.. Implementation of universal decolonization-treatment of all ICU patients with chlorhexidine bathing and nasal mupirocin-used a prerelease version of a publicly available toolkit. Implementation in 136 adult ICUs in 95 acute care hospitals across the United States was supported by planning and deployment tactics coordinated by a central infection prevention team using toolkit resources, along with coaching calls and engagement of key stakeholders. Operational and process measures derived from a common electronic health record system provided real-time feedback about performance. Healthcare-associated central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), using National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance definitions and comparing the preimplementation period of January 2011 through December 2012 to the postimplementation period of July 2013 through February 2014, were assessed via a Poisson generalized linear mixed model regression for CLABSI events.. Implementation of universal decolonization was completed within 6 months. The estimated rate of CLABSI decreased by 23.5% (95% confidence interval, 9.8%-35.1%; P = .001). There was no evidence of a trend over time in either the pre- or postimplementation period. Adjusting for seasonality and number of beds did not materially affect these results.. Dissemination of universal decolonization of ICU patients was accomplished quickly in a large community health system and was associated with declines in CLABSI consistent with published clinical trial findings.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Baths; Catheter-Related Infections; Chlorhexidine; Cohort Studies; Cross Infection; Female; Hospitals, Community; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; United States

Antibiotic resistance is a challenge in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The objective of this study was to demonstrate that a novel, minimally invasive program not interfering with activities of daily living or socialization could lower methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) disease.. This was a prospective, cluster-randomized, nonblinded trial initiated at 3 LTCFs. During year 1, units were stratified by type of care and randomized to intervention or control. In year 2, all units were converted to intervention consisting of universal decolonization using intranasal mupirocin and a chlorhexidine bath performed twice (2 decolonization-bathing cycles 1 month apart) at the start of the intervention period. Subsequently, after initial decolonization, all admissions were screened on site using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and those MRSA positive were decolonized, but not isolated. Units received annual instruction on hand hygiene. Enhanced bleach wipe cleaning of flat surfaces was done every 4 months.. There were 16,773 tests performed. The MRSA infection rate decreased 65% between baseline (44 infections during 365,809 patient days) and year 2 (12 infections during 287,847 patient days; P <.001); a significant reduction was observed at each of the LTCFs (P <.03).. On-site MRSA surveillance with targeted decolonization resulted in a significant decrease in clinical MRSA infection among LTCF residents.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Infection Control; Long-Term Care; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Prospective Studies; Socialization; Staphylococcal Infections

More than 33,000 healthcare-associated infections occur in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) each year in the USA. Parents, rather than healthcare workers, may be a reservoir from which neonates acquire Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonisation in the NICU. This study looks to measure the effect of treating parents with short course intranasal mupirocin and topical chlorhexidine antisepsis on acquisition of S. aureus colonisation and infection in neonates.. The TREAT PARENTS trial (Treating Parents to Reduce Neonatal Transmission of S. aureus) is a multicentre randomised, masked, placebo-controlled trial. Shortly after a neonate is admitted to the NICU, parents will be tested for S. aureus colonisation. If either parent screens positive for S. aureus, then both parents as a pair will be enrolled and randomised to one of the two possible masked treatment arms. Arm 1 will include assignment to intranasal 2% mupirocin plus topical antisepsis with chlorhexidine gluconate impregnated cloths for 5 days. Arm 2 will include assignment to placebo ointment and placebo cloths for skin antisepsis for 5 days. The primary outcome will be neonatal acquisition of an S. aureus strain that is concordant to the parental baseline S. aureus strain as determined by periodic surveillance cultures or a culture collected during routine clinical care that grows S. aureus. Secondary outcomes will include neonatal acquisition of S. aureus, neonatal S. aureus infection, eradication of S. aureus colonisation in parents, natural history of S. aureus colonisation in parents receiving placebo, adverse reactions to treatment, feasibility of intervention, and attitudes and behaviour in consented parents. Four hundred neonate-parent pairs will be enrolled.. The study was approved by Johns Hopkins University IRB in June 2014 (IRB number 00092982). Protocol V.7 was approved in November 2014. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.. NCT02223520.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Child; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Mupirocin; Parents; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

We tested infection prevention strategies to limit exposure of long-term care facility residents to drug-resistant pathogens in a prospective, cluster randomized 2-year trial involving 3 long-term care facilities (LTCFs) using methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a model. We hypothesized that nasal MRSA surveillance using rapid quantitative polymerase chain reaction and decolonization of carriers would successfully lower overall MRSA colonization. In year 1, randomly assigned intervention units received decolonization with nasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine bathing and enhanced environmental cleaning with bleach every 4 months. Newly admitted MRSA nares-positive residents were decolonized on admission. Control units were screened but not decolonized. All units received periodic bleach environmental cleaning and instruction on hand hygiene. In year 2, all units followed intervention protocol caused by failure of the cluster randomized approach to sufficiently segregate patients. MRSA colonization was monitored using point prevalence testing every 4-6 months. Colonization status at admission and discharge was performed 1 quarter per year to determine acquisition. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis. Baseline MRSA colonization rate was 16.64%. In year 1, the colonization rate of intervention units was 11.61% (P = .028) and 17.85% in control units (P = .613) compared with baseline. Intervention unit rate difference compared with the controls was significant (P = .001). In year 2, the colonization rate was 10.55% (P < .001) compared with baseline. The transmission rates were 1.66% and 3.52% in years 1 and 2, respectively (P = .034). The planned interventions of screening and decolonization were successful at lowering MRSA colonization.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Disinfectants; Infection Control; Long-Term Care; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nose; Nursing Homes; Prospective Studies; Sodium Hypochlorite; Staphylococcal Infections

Both targeted decolonization and universal decolonization of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are candidate strategies to prevent health care-associated infections, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).. We conducted a pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial. Hospitals were randomly assigned to one of three strategies, with all adult ICUs in a given hospital assigned to the same strategy. Group 1 implemented MRSA screening and isolation; group 2, targeted decolonization (i.e., screening, isolation, and decolonization of MRSA carriers); and group 3, universal decolonization (i.e., no screening, and decolonization of all patients). Proportional-hazards models were used to assess differences in infection reductions across the study groups, with clustering according to hospital.. A total of 43 hospitals (including 74 ICUs and 74,256 patients during the intervention period) underwent randomization. In the intervention period versus the baseline period, modeled hazard ratios for MRSA clinical isolates were 0.92 for screening and isolation (crude rate, 3.2 vs. 3.4 isolates per 1000 days), 0.75 for targeted decolonization (3.2 vs. 4.3 isolates per 1000 days), and 0.63 for universal decolonization (2.1 vs. 3.4 isolates per 1000 days) (P=0.01 for test of all groups being equal). In the intervention versus baseline periods, hazard ratios for bloodstream infection with any pathogen in the three groups were 0.99 (crude rate, 4.1 vs. 4.2 infections per 1000 days), 0.78 (3.7 vs. 4.8 infections per 1000 days), and 0.56 (3.6 vs. 6.1 infections per 1000 days), respectively (P<0.001 for test of all groups being equal). Universal decolonization resulted in a significantly greater reduction in the rate of all bloodstream infections than either targeted decolonization or screening and isolation. One bloodstream infection was prevented per 54 patients who underwent decolonization. The reductions in rates of MRSA bloodstream infection were similar to those of all bloodstream infections, but the difference was not significant. Adverse events, which occurred in 7 patients, were mild and related to chlorhexidine.. In routine ICU practice, universal decolonization was more effective than targeted decolonization or screening and isolation in reducing rates of MRSA clinical isolates and bloodstream infection from any pathogen. (Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; REDUCE MRSA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00980980).

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bacteremia; Baths; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Comparative Effectiveness Research; Cross Infection; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Disinfection; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Mass Screening; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

To compare an interventional protocol with a standard protocol for preventing the acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the intensive care unit (ICU).. Prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, nonblinded clinical trial.. Medical ICUs of 2 French university hospitals.. Five hundred adults with an expected length of stay in the ICU greater than 48 hours.. For the intervention group, the protocol required repeated MRSA screening, contact and droplet isolation precautions for patients at risk for MRSA at ICU admission and for MRSA-positive patients, and decontamination with nasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine body wash for MRSA-positive patients. For the standard group, the standard precautions protocol was used, and the results of repeated MRSA screening in the standard group were not communicated to investigators.. MRSA acquisition rate in the ICU. An audit was conducted to assess compliance with hygiene and isolation precautions.. In the intent-to-treat analysis ([Formula: see text]), the MRSA acquisition rate in the ICU was similar in the standard (13 [5.3%] of 243) and intervention (16 [6.5%] of 245) groups ([Formula: see text]). The audit showed that the overall compliance rate was 85.5% in the standard group and 84.1% in the intervention group ([Formula: see text]), although compliance was higher when isolation precautions were absent than when they were in place (88.2% vs 79.1%; [Formula: see text]). MRSA incidence rates were higher without isolation precautions (7.57‰) than with isolation precautions (2.36‰; [Formula: see text]).. Individual allocation to MRSA screening, isolation precautions, and decontamination do not provide individual benefit in reducing MRSA acquisition, compared with standard precautions, although the collective risk was lower during the periods of isolation.. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00151606.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; France; Guideline Adherence; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Patient Isolation; Staphylococcal Infections

Evaluate the feasibility of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization and bacteriuria screening in outpatients before realizing a decolonization treatment in S. aureus carriers and a bacteriuria treatment before hospitalization.. All patients undergoing hip, knee or back surgery in which prosthesis were implanted between October 2007 until the end of June 2008 were included. Microbiological studies were performed before hospitalization. Notice for S. aureus decolonization regimen was delivered to each patient and to the general practitioner only if the patient had nasal carriage.. Only 91.2% (240/263) of patients had microbiological results. Prevalence of S. aureus colonization was 21.4% (48 positives/224). Three patients were colonized with methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Decolonization regimen was applied before surgery to 70.8% (n=34) of the colonized patients. Among the patients, 8.9% (20/225) had bacteriuria, Escherichia coli being the most frequent micro-organism (n=16).. Preoperative search and management of S. aureus colonization and of bacteriuria in outpatients is possible. Monitoring record must be performed by a member of the hospital staff.

Topics: Aged; Arthroplasty, Replacement; Bacteriuria; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Decontamination; Escherichia coli; Feasibility Studies; Female; Forms and Records Control; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Medical Records; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Preoperative Care; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus are at increased risk for health care-associated infections with this organism. Decolonization of nasal and extranasal sites on hospital admission may reduce this risk.. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, we assessed whether rapid identification of S. aureus nasal carriers by means of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay, followed by treatment with mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine soap, reduces the risk of hospital-associated S. aureus infection.. From October 2005 through June 2007, a total of 6771 patients were screened on admission. A total of 1270 nasal swabs from 1251 patients were positive for S. aureus. We enrolled 917 of these patients in the intention-to-treat analysis, of whom 808 (88.1%) underwent a surgical procedure. All the S. aureus strains identified on PCR assay were susceptible to methicillin and mupirocin. The rate of S. aureus infection was 3.4% (17 of 504 patients) in the mupirocin-chlorhexidine group, as compared with 7.7% (32 of 413 patients) in the placebo group (relative risk of infection, 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23 to 0.75). The effect of mupirocin-chlorhexidine treatment was most pronounced for deep surgical-site infections (relative risk, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.62). There was no significant difference in all-cause in-hospital mortality between the two groups. The time to the onset of nosocomial infection was shorter in the placebo group than in the mupirocin-chlorhexidine group (P=0.005).. The number of surgical-site S. aureus infections acquired in the hospital can be reduced by rapid screening and decolonizing of nasal carriers of S. aureus on admission. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN56186788.)

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Infective Agents; Carrier State; Cause of Death; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Length of Stay; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Ointments; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Skin; Soaps; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

To determine whether the use of chlorhexidine bathing and intranasal mupirocin therapy among patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) would decrease the incidence of MRSA colonization and infection among intensive care unit (ICU) patients.. After a 9-month baseline period (January 13, 2003, through October 12, 2003) during which all incident cases of MRSA colonization or infection were identified through the use of active-surveillance cultures in a combined medical-coronary ICU, all patients colonized with MRSA were treated with intranasal mupirocin and underwent daily chlorhexidine bathing.. After the intervention, incident cases of MRSA colonization or infection decreased 52% (incidence density, 8.45 vs 4.05 cases per 1,000 patient-days; P=.048). All MRSA isolates remained susceptible to chlorhexidine; the overall rate of mupirocin resistance was low (4.4%) among isolates identified by surveillance cultures and did not increase during the intervention period.. We conclude that the selective use of intranasal mupirocin and daily chlorhexidine bathing for patients colonized with MRSA reduced the incidence of MRSA colonization and infection and contributed to reductions identified by active-surveillance cultures. This finding suggests that additional strategies to reduce the incidence of MRSA infection and colonization--beyond expanded surveillance--may be needed.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Whole-body washing with antiseptic solution has been widely used as part of eradication treatment for colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but evidence for the effectiveness of this measure is limited.. To study the efficacy of whole-body washing with chlorhexidine for the control of MRSA.. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial.. University Hospital of Heidelberg and surrounding nursing homes.. MRSA carriers who were not treated concurrently with antibiotics effective against MRSA were eligible for the study.. Five days of whole-body washing with either 4% chlorhexidine solution (treatment group) or with a placebo solution. All patients received mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine mouth rinse. The outcome was evaluated 3, 4, 5, 9, and 30 days after treatment with swab samples taken from several body sites.. Of 114 patients enrolled in the study (56 in the treatment group and 58 in the placebo group), 11 did not finish treatment (8 from the treatment group and 3 from the placebo group [P=.02]). At baseline, the groups did not differ with regard to age, sex, underlying condition, site of MRSA colonization, or history of MRSA eradication treatment. Eleven patients were MRSA-free 30 days after treatment (4 from the treatment group and 7 from the placebo group [P=.47]). Only groin-area colonization was significantly better eradicated by the use of chlorhexidine. The best predictor for total eradication was a low number of body sites positive for MRSA. Adverse effects were significantly more frequent in the treatment group than in the placebo group (any symptom, 71% vs 33%) but were reversible in most cases.. Whole-body washing can reduce skin colonization, but it appears necessary to extend eradication measures to the gastrointestinal tract, wounds, and/or other colonized body sites if complete eradication is the goal.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Germany; Hospitals, University; Humans; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nursing Homes; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of postoperative wound infections, and nasal colonization by this organism is an important factor in the development of infections. Treatment with mupirocin can eradicate the organism in the short term, and prophylactic treatment of colonized patients may prevent postoperative S. aureus infections. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed to determine whether nasal mupirocin administered pre-operatively to S. aureus carriers reduces the rates of sternal and leg wound infections after cardiac surgery. The study enrolled 263 patients with nasal S. aureus undergoing elective cardiac surgery at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Patients were assessed for infections in the immediate postoperative period and two months later. Two hundred and fifty-seven patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis and re-analysed according to the actual treatment applied. Wound infections occurred in 17 (13.5%) mupirocin recipients and 11 (9.1%) placebo recipients (P=0.319), with seven (5.4%) and six (4.7%) sternal infections, respectively. Two (1.6%) wound infections were acquired postoperatively in the mupirocin group, neither of which were caused by S. aureus. The placebo group had three (2.4%) nosocomial wound infections, with two (1.6%) S. aureus bacteraemias (P=0.243). Among patients receiving mupirocin, 106 (81.5%) cleared S. aureus compared with 59 (46.5%) patients receiving placebo (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference between intention-to-treat and actual treatment groups. Prophylactic intranasal mupirocin administered to S. aureus carriers did not reduce the rates of overall surgical site infections by S. aureus, and only showed a trend towards decreased incidence of nosocomial S. aureus infections.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Coronary Artery Bypass; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Preoperative Care; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection; Treatment Outcome

The use of topical polymyxin and tobramycin to prevent intensive care infections is controversial. Moreover, these antibiotics are ineffective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. A decontamination regimen using mupirocin and chlorhexidine could prevent acquired infections, including those involving S. aureus. Because these two regimens could have a complementary role, we evaluated their effects when given both alone and combined.. The authors conducted a multiple-center, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study performed according to a 2 x 2 factorial design.. The study was conducted at three polyvalent medical intensive care units at university-affiliated hospitals in France.. Adult patients (age, > or =18 yrs) intubated for <48 hrs who were likely to be ventilated for >48 hrs.. Two regimens were used: topical administration of polymyxin/tobramycin (or placebo) and nasal mupirocin with chlorhexidine body washing (or nasal placebo with liquid soap). The patients (n = 515) received polymyxin/tobramycin alone (n = 130), mupirocin/chlorhexidine alone (n = 130), both regimens (n = 129), or all placebos (n = 126) for the period of mechanical ventilation plus 24 hrs.. The incidence of total infections acquired from the date of randomization until the termination date of study treatments plus 48 hrs was assessed. There were fewer acquired infections with both regimens than with polymyxin/tobramycin alone (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.75; p = .003), mupirocin/chlorhexidine alone (0.43; 0.25-0.73; p = .002), or all placebos (0.42; 0.25-0.72; p = .001). There were no differences between polymyxin/tobramycin alone (0.95; 0.59-1.54; p = .84) and mupirocin/chlorhexidine alone (0.98; 0.60-1.58; p = .92) vs. all placebos. The probability of freedom from infection was higher with both regimens than with polymyxin/tobramycin alone (p = .002), mupirocin/chlorhexidine alone (p < .001), or all placebos (p < .001). Infection rates were also significantly lower with both regimens than with polymyxin/tobramycin alone (p = .017), mupirocin/chlorhexidine alone (p < .001), or all placebos (p < .001).. Acquired infections were substantially reduced by mupirocin/chlorhexidine plus polymyxin/tobramycin, whereas each regimen given alone was ineffective. Whether both regimens could increase Candida infections deserves further investigation.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Decontamination; Digestive System; Disinfectants; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Polymyxins; Respiration, Artificial; Skin; Tobramycin

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a major risk factor for nosocomial S. aureus infection. Studies show that intranasal mupirocin can prevent nosocomial surgical site infections. No data are available on the efficacy of mupirocin in nonsurgical patients.. To assess the efficacy of mupirocin prophylaxis in preventing nosocomial S. aureus infections in nonsurgical patients.. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.. 3 tertiary care academic hospitals and 1 nonacademic hospital.. 1602 culture-proven S. aureus carriers hospitalized in nonsurgical departments.. Therapy with mupirocin 2% nasal ointment (n = 793) or placebo ointment (n = 809), twice daily for 5 days, started 1 to 3 days after admission.. Nosocomial S. aureus infections according to defined criteria, in-hospital mortality, duration of hospitalization, and time to nosocomial S. aureus infection. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were genotyped to assess whether infection was caused by endogenous strains.. The mupirocin and placebo groups did not statistically differ in the rates of nosocomial S. aureus infections (mupirocin, 2.6%; placebo, 2.8%; risk difference, 0.2 percentage point [95% CI, -1.5 to 1.9 percentage points]), mortality (mupirocin, 3.0%; placebo, 2.8%; risk difference, -0.2 percentage point [CI, -1.9 to 1.5 percentage points]), or duration of hospitalization (median for both, 8 days). However, time to nosocomial S. aureus infection was decreased in the mupirocin group from 12 to 25 days (P > 0.2). A total of 77% of S. aureus nosocomial infections were endogenous.. A few infections in both groups may have been missed because investigators assessed a patient for infection only if microbiology culture results were positive for S. aureus.. Routine culture for S. aureus nasal carriage at admission and subsequent mupirocin application does not provide effective prophylaxis against nosocomial S. aureus infections in nonsurgical patients.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Genotype; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Ointments; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for surgical-site infections (SSIs) caused by S. aureus, and eradication of carriage reduces postoperative nosocomial infections caused by it. No study has compared large groups of preoperative carriers and non-carriers to identify factors that are linked to S. aureus nasal carriage.. While conducting a clinical trial evaluating whether mupirocin prevented S. aureus SSIs, we prospectively collected data on 70 patient characteristics that might be associated with S. aureus carriage. We performed stepwise logistic regression analysis.. Of the 4,030 patients, 891 (22%) carried S. aureus. Independent risk factors for S. aureus nasal carriage were obesity (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.11-1.50), male gender (OR, 1.29; CI95, 1.11-1.51), and a history of a cerebrovascular accident (OR, 1.53; CI95, 1.03-2.25) for all patients. Factors associated with nasal carriage varied somewhat by surgical specialty. In all groups, preoperative use of antimicrobial agents was independently associated with a lower risk of carrying S. aureus in the nares. Previously identified risk factors were not significantly associated with S. aureus nasal carriage in this large group of surgical patients.. Male gender, obesity, and a history of a cerebrovascular accident were identified as risk factors for S. aureus nasal carriage. It remains to be seen whether preoperative weight loss would reduce the rate of nasal carriage. In addition, the value of screening this patient population for S. aureus nasal carriage merits further investigation.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Hospitals, University; Hospitals, Veterans; Humans; Iowa; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

Staphylococcus aureus is the agent of community-acquired and nosocomial infections. Twenty to 35% of the population permanently carries it in the nose and oropharynx, and additional 50%, carries it intermittently. Topical calcium mupirocin is an antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus recommended to eradicate nasal and hand colonization in patients and health care workers. The prevalence of nasal S. aureus was determined in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. In addition, the effect of mupirocine on the number of carriers and rate of nosocomial infections was evaluated. An experimental prospective study was undertaken with two groups of patients: one treated with mupirocin (n = 96), and the other without treatment (n = 95). Tests for presence of nasal S. aureus and nosocomial infections were conducted in all patients. A 34% prevalence of S. aureus carriers was found. A decrease of the prevalence was found in both treated (87%) and untreated patients (33%), but in significantly different proportions (p = 0.0002, RR = 0.22, 95%CI = 0.09-0.054). This result demonstrated the effectiveness of a mupirocin treatment program to decrease numbers of nasal carriers. With regard to nosocomial infection, S. aureus prevalence was 3.6%, occurring mostly in control patients (6 of 7). Total nosocomial infection prevalence was 17.3%, evenly distributed in treated and untreated patients. This suggested that mupirocin use did not decrease the number of nosocomial infections.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Nose; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Clinical efficacy of mupirocin ointment (dermatic and nasal) was evaluated in the treatment of oncologic patients with nosocomial infections of the staphylococcal etiology and carriers of S.aureus among the medical personnel. The use of dermatic ointment of mupirocin, a local antibiotic, in the treatment of the inpatients with nosocomial infections of the staphylococcal etiology allowed to lower at least 2.5 times the number of the prescriptions of vancomycin, a systemic antibiotic. The use of mupirocin nasal ointment provided absolute eradication of S.aureus strains in the carriers. Recolonization of the nasal passages with S.aureus in some carriers started only 3 months after the eradication. A 6-month observation of the carriers after the sanitation showed that the recolonization frequency by the end of the observation period amounted to 19%. A prolonged for more than 4 months effect of the treatment with mupirocin was stated in 81% of the cases. The monitoring of S.aureus circulation in the intrahospital environment revealed that its level during that period was 6 times lower than the initial one which was obviously due to the use of mupirocin (dermatic and nasal) for the carrier sanitation and the patient treatment.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Drug Administration Schedule; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Medical Staff, Hospital; Mupirocin; Ointments; Primary Prevention; Staphylococcal Infections; Time Factors

We assessed the incidence of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on admission, the rate of acquisition during the hospital stay and the relationship with subsequent infection in a digestive disease unit. The efficacy of a program of nasal carriage eradication with mupirocin was evaluated simultaneously. Over one year 484 patients were studied prospectively on admission for nasal and stool carriage of MRSA, then every week for nasal carriage. Nearly 70% (68.8%) of patients had chronic liver diseases. Nasal carriers were assigned to a five-day course of intranasal mupirocin ointment. One hundred and seventeen (24.2%) patients were MRSA positive, 57 (11.8%) of which were carriers on admission and 60 (12.4%) acquired carriage. Of these, 86 were treated with mupirocin with a success rate of 98.8% and 25.9% of them recolonized. Fourteen patients were retreated, to allow eradication in 71.4% of cases. Seventy percent of these became carriers again. One high-level mupirocin-resistant strain was isolated before treatment and seven during or after treatment. Hospital stay and stool carriage were independently associated with reacquisition (P = 0.0105 and P = 0.0462, respectively). Molecular analysis showed identity between the strains isolated from infection samples and from nasal swabs during the same week. For every patient who became recolonized, nasal strains isolated before and after eradication were the same in 70% of cases. Mortality during hospital stay was independently associated with age (P = 0.0081), MRSA nasal carriage (P = 0.02631), MRSA infection (P < 0.0001) and liver disease (P = 0.0017). This study did not show a change in the prevalence rate of infection in the unit during treatment with mupirocin. This treatment should only be attempted once due to the risk of emergence of high-level resistant strains.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Feces; Female; Hospital Units; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Length of Stay; Liver Diseases; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasopharynx; Paris; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

Patients with nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus have an increased risk of surgical-site infections caused by that organism. Treatment with mupirocin ointment can reduce the rate of nasal carriage and may prevent postoperative S. aureus infections.. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether intranasal treatment with mupirocin reduces the rate of S. aureus infections at surgical sites and prevents other nosocomial infections.. Of 4030 enrolled patients who underwent general, gynecologic, neurologic, or cardiothoracic surgery, 3864 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Overall, 2.3 percent of mupirocin recipients and 2.4 percent of placebo recipients had S. aureus infections at surgical sites. Of the 891 patients (23.1 percent of the 3864 who completed the study) who had S. aureus in their anterior nares, 444 received mupirocin and 447 received placebo. Among the patients with nasal carriage of S. aureus, 4.0 percent of those who received mupirocin had nosocomial S. aureus infections, as compared with 7.7 percent of those who received placebo (odds ratio for infection, 0.49; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.92; P=0.02).. Prophylactic intranasal application of mupirocin did not significantly reduce the rate of S. aureus surgical-site infections overall, but it did significantly decrease the rate of all nosocomial S. aureus infections among the patients who were S. aureus carriers.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Ointments; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

The objective of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of mupirocin to the 'classical' topical SDD regimen (tobramycin 80 mg, polymyxin E 100 mg, amphotericin B 500 mg) on the development of ICU-acquired infections due to gram-positive bacteria. The study was carried out in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a 1400-bed community hospital. All patients admitted to the ICU during a 16-month period, who were expected to require mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours, were randomized to receive either the 'classical' SDD regimen (Group A) or a modified regimen with mupirocin (Group B). Data from 223 patients requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours, who were neither infected nor receiving antibiotics on ICU admission, was analysed. A 2% paste containing tobramycin, polymyxin E and amphotericin B was applied every 6 hours in the oropharynx to the patients in Group A, while in Group B this formula was modified with the addition of 2% mupirocin. In Group B 0.2 ml of a 2% mupirocin ointment was also applied four times daily in both nostrils. Patients in Group A received a soft paraffin ointment as a placebo indistinguishable from mupirocin. Patients in both groups received the classic SDD regimen through the nasogastric tube. Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis was not used. Data on lower airway infection, and blood infection, infections of intravascular catheters, antibiotic consumption and expenditures for antibiotics were analysed. The diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was based on quantitative cultures of protected specimen brush samples (PSB) or on the results of distal broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL). One hundred and four patients received the 'classical' SDD and 119 the modified regimen. Overall 29 patients, 20 in Group A and nine in Group B (p < 0.02) had a total of 33 cases of pneumonia. There were 23 episodes of pneumonia in Group A and 10 in Group B (p < 0.02). Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from samples in 17 episodes in Group A and six in Group B (p < 0.02). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in nine cases of pneumonia in Group A and once in the 'mupirocin' group (p < 0.05). MRSA were isolated in seven out of nine cases in Group A and in the only case in Group B. There were no differences in the isolation of gram-negative bacilli. Antibiotic consumption and cost were lower in Group B. In conclusion, our data show that the topical use of a modified formula of SDD,

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Drug Costs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Hospitals, Community; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Prospective Studies; Respiration, Artificial; Trachea; Treatment Outcome

The action of mupirocin as a nasal ointment (Bactroban) was studied on intranasal carriers of the hospital staphylococcal strains. The study included 37 medical workers from different and mainly problem units of the large general hospital. The tolerability of the ointment was good. After the Bactroban use no complications of the patients were recorded. The efficacy of Bacroban by the microbiological criteria in total amounted to 100 per cent. The eradication of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was observed in 93 per cent of the cases. A decrease of the level of the nasal passages dissemination by MRSA and methicillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRSC) up to such low titers as 100 and 90 per cent was stated. No difference in the action of Bactroban on MRSA, MSSA and MRSC was noted. The bacteriological monitoring for 3 to 4 months revealed a change of the staphylococcal strains in 94 per cent of the cases, recolonization by the same staphylococcal strain in 19 per cent, recolonization by some another staphylococcal strains in 33 per cent and no recolonization in 14 per cent. A stable decrease of staphylococcal strains was possible with simultaneous Bactroban sanitation of all the bacterial carriers of the hospital or its isolated unit.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Medical Staff, Hospital; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nose; Nose Diseases; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus

Nasal carriage of MRSA is a significant risk-factor for the endogenous MRSA infection in immunocompromised patients. MRSA infection in ICU patients is thus mostly endogenous infection. To evaluate the impact of mupirocin use on the incidence of endogenous infection caused by MRSA in an intensive care unit, we prospectively treated all patients in the unit with mupirocin, 3 times daily for 3 days. This routine use of mupirocin led to eradication of nasal MRSA carriage in 81.8% of surveillance cultures and to a significant reduction in the total incidence of MRSA infection among MRSA carrier patients (0 episode in 11 patients) when compared to historical controls prior to the use of mupirocin (3 episodes in 7 patients). Mupirocin nasal ointment was significantly effective to prevent endogenous MRSA infection.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Incidence; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Ointments; Staphylococcal Infections

To evaluate efficacy of mupirocin ointment nasal application in prevention of MRSA ventilatory associated pneumonia (VAP).. prospective, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial.. 48 consecutive intubated patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit during a three month period.. University of Florence; Intensive Care.. Randomized application of 2 ml of Mupirocin ointment three times a day for three days (Group A; n = 24) or placebo (Group B n = 24).. Chi 2 or Fisher exact test.. Bacteriologic evaluation of nasal carriage at admission in ICU, and after 3 days of prevention; evaluation of bacteriology of bronchial aspirate in the case of symptoms of ventilatory associated pneumonia.. Relative risk of nasal carriage by pathological bacterial strains is 7.2 times in hospitalized patients more than in home patients (18/25 vs 7/23); MRSA nasal carriage is present at admission on 20% of hospitalized patients. Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus strains is reduced of 90% by Mupirocin application but is reduced only of 50% by placebo application (p < 0.05). In Group B, VAP occurred in 5 patients vs 3 of Group A; the more frequent incidence of VAP in group B is due to MRSA infection (p < 0.01) and it is related to MRSA nasal carriage.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Ointments; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Prospective Studies

We performed a randomized prospective study of 5-day treatment with topical mupirocin or bacitracin for the elimination of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in healthcare workers (HCWs). Nasal cultures were obtained from 141 HCWs, 37 (26%) of whom showed S. aureus. After 72 to 96 hours of treatment, the organism was eradicated in 15 (94%) of 16 by mupirocin and in 8 (44%) of 18 by bacitracin (P = .0031). Similar efficacy was demonstrated at 30 days. Mupirocin may be more effective than bacitracin for eradication of S. aureus in healthy HCWs.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacitracin; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Male; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Prospective Studies; Single-Blind Method; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

From September 1997 to March 1998, forty patients with cerebral disorders were investigated. They were divided into two groups: one treated and the other untreated. Mupirocin calcium ointment (MCO) was applied three times a day for three days into the nasal cavities of the patients in the treated group. In order to check the growth of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), bacterial isolation culture from the nasal cavity was carried out on admission, one week after admission and one month after admission. MRSA was nor detected in isolation culture of any of the cases on admission. One week later MRSA was detected in isolation culture of one case of the 20 MCO treated patients and in three of the 20 untreated patients. There was no significant difference between treated and untreated groups. In isolation culture after one month, MRSA was recognized in four cases of 16 in the MCO treated group (three patients were discharged and one expired). On the other hand, it was recognized in eight cases of thirteen in the untreated group (seven cases were discharged). MRSA infection of the nasal cavity decreased significantly due to MCO treatment (p < 0.05). It is suggested that the nasal carriage of MRSA was prevented by intranasal application of MCO on admission.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Brain Diseases; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Ointments; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Mupirocin is a topically applied drug that is very active in the eradication of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, studies designed to compare mupirocin treatment with other antimicrobial regimens are lacking. We therefore conducted an open, prospective, randomized, controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of mupirocin versus those of oral co-trimoxazole plus topical fusidic acid (both regimens with a clorhexidine scrub bath) for the eradication of MRSA from nasal and extranasal carriers of MRSA. The eradication rates with mupirocin and co-trimoxazole plus fusidic acid at 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 90 days were 93 and of 93, 100 and 100, 97 and 94, 100 and 92, 96 and 95, and 78 and 71%, respectively, for nasal carriage. At 7, 14, and 28 days the eradication rates for extranasal carriage by the two regimens were 23 and 74, 83 and 76, and 45 and 69%, respectively. The efficacies and safety of both regimens were similar. The MRSA isolates were not resistant to the study drugs either at the baseline or at follow-up. These results suggest that mupirocin and co-trimoxazole plus fusidic acid, both used in conjunction with a chlorhexidine soap bath, are equally effective and safe for the eradication of MRSA from nasal and extranasal MRSA carriers. Mupirocin was easier to use but was more expensive.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Cross Infection; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fusidic Acid; Humans; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Mupirocin ointment has been shown to be effective in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in residents of a long-term care facility. Antiseptic soaps have been used as adjunct to this therapy. We compared the efficacy of short-term intranasal mupirocin ointment with and without chlorhexidine baths in the eradication of S. aureus nasal carriage with follow-up for 12 weeks.. Residents in four nursing homes known to have endemic methicillin-resistant S. aureus were screened for nasal carriage of S. aureus. Residents who had anterior nares cultures positive for S. aureus on two separate occasions were divided into two groups. Both groups received intranasal mupirocin ointment twice daily for 5 days and one group also received chlorhexidine baths for the first 3 days. Cultures of anterior nares, axilla, and groins were performed before treatment and 1 day and 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment.. After treatment, S. aureus nasal carriage was eradicated in all residents. Recolonization with S. aureus had occurred at 12 weeks in 24% of residents receiving mupirocin ointment alone (6/25) and in 15% of residents receiving mupirocin ointment plus chlorhexidine baths (4/27).. A short course of mupirocin ointment was effective in eradicating nasal carriage of S. aureus in nursing home residents. There were no statistical differences in efficacy between the two regimens with respect to the eradication of nasal carriage and prevention of recolonization with S. aureus.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Nursing Homes; Staphylococcal Infections; Treatment Outcome

To assess the impact of the use of mupirocin ointment on colonization, transmission, and infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a long-term-care facility.. All 321 residents of a Veterans Affairs long-term-care facility from June 1990 through June 1991 were studied for MRSA colonization and infection. MRSA-colonized patients received mupirocin ointment to nares in the first 7 months and to nares and wounds in the second 5 months. The effect of mupirocin use on MRSA colonization and infection was monitored. All S. aureus strains isolated were tested for the development of resistance to mupirocin.. A total of 65 patients colonized with MRSA received mupirocin ointment. Mupirocin rapidly eliminated MRSA at the sites treated in most patients by the end of 1 week. Weekly maintenance mupirocin was not adequate to prevent recurrences--40% of patients had recurrence of MRSA. Overall, MRSA colonization in the facility, which was 22.7% +/- 1% prior to the use of mupirocin, did not change when mupirocin was used in nares only (22.2% +/- 2.1%), but did decrease to 11.5% +/- 1.8% when mupirocin was used in nares and wounds. Although colonization decreased, roommate-to-roommate transmission and MRSA infection rates, low to begin with, did not change when mupirocin was used. Mupirocin-resistant MRSA strains were isolated in 10.8% of patients.. Mupirocin ointment is effective at decreasing colonization with MRSA. However, constant surveillance was required to identify patients colonized at admission or experiencing recurrence of MRSA during maintenance treatment. Long-term use of mupirocin selected for mupirocin-resistant MRSA strains. Mupirocin should be saved for use in outbreak situations, and not used over the long term in facilities with endemic MRSA colonization.

Topics: Aged; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Prevalence; Recurrence; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Wound Infection

Mupirocin eliminates nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among medical and surgical personnel for periods varying from several weeks up to one year. In persons recolonized after therapy densities of S. aureus populations in nares were much lower than in the same persons before therapy.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Fatty Acids; Humans; Mupirocin; Nose; Personnel, Hospital; Poland; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Cross Infection; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Outbreaks of MRSA occur in NICUs and may be difficult to control. We describe an outbreak of mupirocin-resistant MRSA, molecular epidemiology of isolates and control.. Medical record review of personnel contact with infants. MRSA isolates were analyzed by whole genome sequencing (WGS); single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified.. A 31-month outbreak of MRSA infection occurred. Weekly colonization surveillance of infants was initiated; initial prevalence was 45%. Isolates exhibited high level mupirocin-resistance. There were 3 periods of increased colonization and new infections despite implementation of multiple infection prevention interventions. During the second period, an analysis identified a frontline staff member associated with newly colonized infants whose nasal culture grew the clonal MRSA. A marked reduction in colonization followed removal from patient contact. WGS of isolates from years 1-3 showed clonality with maximum SNP differences of 33. Importantly, the year 3 isolates were more closely related to the early year 1 isolates (15-20 SNP differences) than to the late year 1 or year 2 isolates (18-33 SNP differences).. During a recrudescent MRSA outbreak due to a clonal strain, both contact with a colonized staff member and a putative environmental or personnel reservoir were associated with MRSA acquisition.

Topics: Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Whole Genome Sequencing

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and mupirocin are widely used to decolonize patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and reduce risks associated with infection in hospitalized populations. Quantifying the association of an application of CHG alone or in combination with mupirocin with risk of MRSA infection is important for studies evaluating alternative decolonization strategies or schedules and for identifying whether there is room for improved decolonizing agents.. To estimate the proportion of patients with MRSA decolonized per application of CHG and mupirocin from existing population-level studies.. A stochastic mathematical model of an 18-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in an academic medical center operating over 1 year was used to estimate parameters for the proportion of simulated patients with MRSA decolonized per application of CHG and mupirocin. The model was conducted using approximate bayesian computation with data from an existing meta-analysis of studies conducted from February 2005 through January 2015. Data were analyzed from January 2018 through November 2019.. A universal decolonization protocol for colonized patients in the ICU using CHG or CHG and mupirocin in combination was simulated.. The proportion of patients with MRSA decolonized per application of CHG and mupirocin was estimated.. The estimated proportion of patients with MRSA decolonized per application of CHG was 0.15 (95% credible interval, 0.01-0.42), and the estimated proportion per application of mupirocin in conjunction with CHG was 0.15 (95% credible interval, 0.01-0.54). A lag in colonization detection was associated with decreases in the CHG estimate (0.11; 95% credible interval, 0.01-0.30) and mupirocin estimate (0.10; 95% credible interval, 0.00-0.34), which were sensitive to the value of the modeled contact rate between nurses and patients. A 1% increase in the value of this parameter was associated with a 0.73% increase in the estimated combined outcomes associated with CHG and mupirocin (95% CI: 0.71, 0.75). Gaps longer than 24 hours in the administration of decolonizing agents were associated with a decrease of within-ICU MRSA transmission. Compared with a mean (SD) of 1.23 (0.27) acquisitions per 1000 patient-days in scenarios with no decolonizing bathing, a bathing protocol administering CHG and mupirocin every 120 hours was associated with a mean (SD) acquisition rate of 1.03 (0.24) acquisitions per 1000 patient days, a 16.3% decrease (95% CI, 14.7%-18.0%; P > .001).. These findings suggest that there may be room for significant improvement in anti-MRSA disinfectants, including the compounds themselves and their delivery mechanisms. Despite the decolonization estimates found in this study, these agents are associated with robust outcomes after delays in administration, which may help in alleviating concerns over patient comfort and toxic effects.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Models, Theoretical; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are serious issues following lung cancer surgery, leading to an increased risk of morbidity and hospital cost burden. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on postoperative outcomes of a preoperative screening and decolonization strategy of nasal carriers for Staphylococcus aureus prior to lung cancer surgery.. We performed a retrospective study comparing 2 cohorts of patients undergoing major lung resection: a control group of patients from the placebo arm of the randomized Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Mouthwashes operated on between July 2012 and April 2015 without any nasopharyngeal screening (N = 224); an experimental group, with preoperative screening for S. aureus of nasal carriers and selective 5-day decolonization in positive carriers using mupirocin ointment between January 2017 and December 2017 (N = 310). The 2 groups were matched according to a propensity score analysis with 1:1 matching. The primary outcome was the rate of postoperative HAIs, and the secondary outcome was the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation after surgery.. After matching, 2 similar groups of 108 patients each were obtained. In the experimental group, 26 patients had positive results for nasal carriage, and a significant decrease was observed in the rate of overall postoperative HAIs [control n = 19, 17.6%; experimental group n = 9, 8.3%; P = 0.043; relative risk 0.47 (0.22-1)] and in the rate of postoperative mechanical ventilation [control n = 12, 11.1%; experimental group n = 4, 3.7%; P = 0.038; relative risk 0.33 (0.11-1)]. After logistic regression and multivariable analysis, screening of S. aureus nasal carriers reduced the rate of HAIs [odds ratio (OR) 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11-0.76; P = 0.01] and reduced the risk of the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05-0.74; P = 0.02). There was no significant statistical difference between the 2 groups regarding the rate of postoperative S. aureus-associated infection (control group n = 6, 5.6%; experimental group n = 2, 1.9%; P = 0.28).. Identification of nasal carriers of S. aureus and selective decontamination using mupirocin appeared to have a beneficial effect on postoperative infectious events after lung resection surgery.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Incidence; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is frequently implicated in health care-associated outbreaks in burn intensive care units, incurring substantial morbidity and mortality to these high-risk patients and excess costs to health care systems.. MRSA health care-associated infections (HAIs) were noted before and after the implementation of basic infection prevention measures and the subsequent implementation of universal decolonization with intranasal mupirocin. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to determine the relatedness of clinical isolates. A case-control study was conducted to characterize the risk factors for MRSA HAIs.. Basic interventions failed to decrease the rate of MRSA HAIs, although compliance with these interventions was high throughout the study. MRSA HAIs decreased from 8.53 HAIs per 1,000 patient days before the implementation of intranasal mupirocin to 3.61 HAIs per 1,000 patient days after the implementation of intranasal mupirocin (P = .033). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis disclosed 10 unique clones with no large clusters. The case-control study revealed a significant association between MRSA HAIs and lengths of stay, body surface area burned, intubation, pressor requirement, leukocytosis, lactic acidosis, development of pneumonia, MRSA colonization, and death.. Basic environmental and behavioral interventions fell short of controlling a low-count, sporadic, and multiclonal MRSA outbreak in the burn intensive care unit of a tertiary medical center. However, the added implementation of universal decolonization with intranasal mupirocin was effective. Burn victims with greater disease severity were at higher risk for MRSA HAIs.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Burn Units; Burns; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Tertiary Care Centers; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

According to this study.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Load; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

The use of monthly intranasal mupirocin was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission and Staphylococcus aureus invasive infection in a large neonatal intensive care unit. Resistance to mupirocin emerged over time, but it was rare and was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:741-745.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Regression Analysis; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Carrier State; Child; Cross Infection; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

To examine neonatal risk factors associated with recurrent Staphylococcus aureus colonization and to determine the genetic relatedness of S. aureus strains cultured from neonates before and after decolonization.Study designSingle-center retrospective cohort study of neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from April 2013 to December 2015, during which weekly nasal cultures from hospitalized NICU patients were routinely obtained for S. aureus surveillance.. Johns Hopkins Hospital's 45-bed level IV NICU in Baltimore, Maryland.. Demographics and clinical data were collected on all neonates admitted to the NICU with S. aureus nasal colonization who underwent mupirocin-based decolonization during the study period. A decolonized neonate was defined as a neonate with ≥1 negative culture after intranasal mupirocin treatment. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used for strain typing.. Of 2,060 infants screened for S. aureus, 271 (13%) were colonized, and 203 of these 271 (75%) received intranasal mupirocin. Of those treated, 162 (80%) had follow-up surveillance cultures, and 63 of these 162 infants (39%) developed recurrent colonization after treatment. The S. aureus strains were often genetically similar before and after decolonization. The presence of an endotracheal tube or nasal cannula/mask was associated with an increased risk of recurrent S. aureus colonization (hazard ratio [HR], 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-5.90; and HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.02-4.75, respectively).. Strains identified before and after decolonization were often genetically similar, and the presence of invasive respiratory devices increased the risk of recurrent S. aureus nasal colonization in neonates. To improve decolonization efficacy, alternative strategies may be needed.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Baltimore; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Male; Mupirocin; Odds Ratio; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

OBJECTIVE To characterize the risk of infection after MRSA decolonization with intranasal mupirocin. DESIGN Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) from 3 urban hospitals in the United States ranging in size from 45 to 100 beds. METHODS MRSA-colonized neonates were identified from NICU admissions occurring from January 2007 to December 2014, during which a targeted decolonization strategy was used for MRSA control. In 2 time-to-event analyses, MRSA-colonized neonates were observed from the date of the first MRSA-positive surveillance screen until (1) the first occurrence of novel gram-positive cocci in sterile culture or discharge or (2) the first occurrence of novel gram-negative bacilli in sterile culture or discharge. Mupirocin exposure was treated as time varying. RESULTS A total of 522 MRSA-colonized neonates were identified from 16,144 neonates admitted to site NICUs. Of the MRSA-colonized neonates, 384 (74%) received mupirocin. Average time from positive culture to mupirocin treatment was 3.5 days (standard deviation, 7.2 days). The adjusted hazard of gram-positive cocci infection was 64% lower among mupirocin-exposed versus mupirocin-unexposed neonates (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.76), whereas the adjusted hazard ratio of gram-negative bacilli infection comparing mupirocin-exposed and -unexposed neonates was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.42-2.62). CONCLUSIONS In this multicentered cohort of MRSA-colonized neonates, mupirocin-based decolonization treatment appeared to decrease the risk of infection with select gram-positive organisms as intended, and the treatment was not significantly associated with risk of subsequent infections with organisms not covered by mupirocin's spectrum of activity. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:930-936.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Tertiary Care Centers

To compare the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and pathogenic Gram-negative rods (GNR) in the anterior nares, posterior pharynx and three skin sites in community-based adults and nursing home-based adults before and after treatment with nasal mupirocin and topical chlorhexidine.. S. aureus-colonized adults were recruited from the community (n=26) and from nursing homes (n=8). Eligible participants were cultured for S. aureus and GNR during two study visits and then received intranasal mupirocin and topical chlorhexidine for 5days, with a 2-month follow-up period.. After decolonization, we found sustained decreases of S. aureus colonization in nose, throat and skin sites over 4-8weeks in both populations. Intranasal mupirocin did not increase GNR colonization in nose or throat. Chlorhexidine did not decrease GNR colonization in skin sites.. Decolonization with mupirocin and chlorhexidine leads to a sustained effect on S. aureus colonization without affecting GNR colonization.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Female; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Gram-Positive Asporogenous Rods; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Nursing Homes; Pharynx; Prospective Studies; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

This was an observational study comparing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission with no decolonization of medical patients to required decolonization of all MRSA carriers during two consecutive periods: baseline with no decolonization of medical patients (16 months) and universal MRSA carrier decolonization (13 months). The setting was a one-hospital, 156-bed facility with 9,200 annual admissions. Regression models were used to compare rates of MRSA acquisition. The chi-square test was used to compare event frequencies. We used rates of MRSA clinical disease as an outcome monitor of the program. Analysis was done on 15,666 patients who had admission and discharge tests; 27.9% of inpatient days were occupied by a MRSA-positive patient (colonized patient-days) who received decolonization while hospitalized during the baseline period (this 27.9% represented those who had planned surgery) compared to 76.0% during the intervention period (P < 0.0001). The rate of MRSA transmission was 97 events (1.0%) for 9,415 admissions (2.0 transmission events/1,000 patient-days) during baseline and was 87 (1.4%) for 6,251 admissions (2.7 transmission events/1,000 patient-days) during intervention (P = 0.06; rate ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 1.00). The MRSA nosocomial clinical disease rate was 5.9 infections/10,000 patient-days in the baseline period and was 7.2 infections/10,000 patient-days for the intervention period (rate ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.45; P = 0.49). Decolonization of MRSA patients does not add benefit when contact precautions are used for patients colonized with MRSA in acute (hospital) care.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Patient Admission; Regression Analysis; Staphylococcal Infections; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE To assess the clinical effectiveness of a universal screening program compared with a risk factor-based program in reducing the rates of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among admitted patients at the Ottawa Hospital. DESIGN Quasi-experimental study. SETTING Ottawa Hospital, a multicenter tertiary care facility with 3 main campuses, approximately 47,000 admissions per year, and 1,200 beds. METHODS From January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007 (24 months), admitted patients underwent risk factor-based MRSA screening. From January 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009 (20 months), all patients admitted underwent universal MRSA screening. To measure the effectiveness of this intervention, segmented regression modeling was used to examine monthly nosocomial MRSA incidence rates per 100,000 patient-days before and during the intervention period. To assess secular trends, nosocomial Clostridium difficile infection, mupirocin prescriptions, and regional MRSA rates were investigated as controls. RESULTS The nosocomial MRSA incidence rate was 46.79 cases per 100,000 patient-days, with no significant differences before and after intervention. The MRSA detection rate per 1,000 admissions increased from 9.8 during risk factor-based screening to 26.2 during universal screening. A total of 644 new nosocomial MRSA cases were observed in 1,448,488 patient-days, 323 during risk factor-based screening and 321 during universal screening. Secular trends in C. difficile infection rates and mupirocin prescriptions remained stable after the intervention whereas population-level MRSA rates decreased. CONCLUSION At Ottawa Hospital, the introduction of universal MRSA admission screening did not significantly affect the rates of nosocomial MRSA compared with risk factor-based screening. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;37(1):41-48.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Canada; Clostridioides difficile; Clostridium Infections; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mass Screening; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Tertiary Care Centers

One of the strategies utilized to decrease infections in the hospital setting relies on topical antimicrobials and antiseptics. While their use is beneficial, concerns arise over the potential to develop resistance or tolerance to these agents. We examined nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus isolates from 2007 to 2013 for the presence of genes associated with tolerance to chlorhexidine. Isolates and patients were identified from an S. aureus surveillance study at Texas Children's Hospital. Nosocomial S. aureus isolates (those causing infection at ≥72 h of hospitalization) were identified and underwent PCR for the qacA or qacB (qacA/B) and smr genes associated with elevated minimum bactericidal concentrations of chlorhexidine. Molecular typing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and agr typing and a review of the medical record were performed. Two hundred forty-seven nosocomial S. aureus infections were identified. Overall, 111 isolates carried one or both genes (44.9%); 33.1% were positive for smr, 22.7% were positive for qacA/B, and 10.9% of the isolates possessed both genes. The smr-positive isolates were more often resistant to methicillin, ciprofloxacin, and/or clindamycin. The isolates positive for qacA/B were more often associated with indwelling central venous catheters and a vancomycin MIC of ≥2 μg/ml. Isolates carrying either smr or qacA/B were associated with a diagnosis of bacteremia. The smr-positive isolates more often belonged to sequence type 8 (ST8) than the isolates that were positive for qacA/B. Mupirocin resistance was detected in 2.8% of the isolates. Antiseptic-tolerant S. aureus strains are common in our children's hospital and are associated with decreased susceptibility to other systemic antimicrobials and with bloodstream infections. Further work is needed to understand the implications that these organisms have on the hospital environment and antiseptic use in the future.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Child; Child, Preschool; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Humans; Infant; Infection Control; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Texas; Young Adult

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of healthcare-associated infections in neonates.. To examine the impact of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) decolonization on the incidence of MSSA infection and to measure the prevalence of mupirocin resistance.. We retrospectively identified neonates admitted to a tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from April 1, 2011, through September 30, 2014. We compared rates of MSSA-positive cultures and infections before and after implementation of an active surveillance culture and decolonization intervention for MSSA-colonized neonates. We used 2 measurements to identify the primary outcome, NICU-attributable MSSA: (1) any culture sent during routine clinical care that grew MSSA and (2) any culture that grew MSSA and met criteria of the National Healthcare Safety Network's healthcare-associated infection surveillance definitions. S. aureus isolates were tested for mupirocin susceptibility. We estimated incidence rate ratios using interrupted time-series models.. Before and after the intervention, 1,523 neonates (29,220 patient-days) and 1,195 neonates (22,045 patient-days) were admitted to the NICU, respectively. There was an immediate reduction in the mean quarterly incidence rate of NICU-attributable MSSA-positive clinical cultures of 64% (incidence rate ratio, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.19-0.70]) after implementation of the intervention, and MSSA-positive culture rates continued to decrease by 21% per quarter (incidence rate ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.74-0.84]). MSSA infections also decreased by 73% immediately following the intervention implementation (incidence rate ratio, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.10-0.79]). No mupirocin resistance was detected.. Active surveillance cultures and decolonization may be effective in decreasing S. aureus infections in NICUs.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Male; Maryland; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Regression Analysis; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Tertiary Healthcare

The effect of decolonization on the control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may differ depending on intensive care unit (ICU) settings and the prevalence of antiseptic resistance in MRSA.. This study was conducted in a 14-bed surgical ICU over a 40-month period. The baseline period featured active surveillance for MRSA and institution of contact precautions. MRSA decolonization via chlorhexidine baths and intranasal mupirocin was implemented during a subsequent 20-month intervention period. Pre-post and interrupted time series analysis were used to evaluate changes in the clinical incidence of hospital-acquired MRSA colonization or infection. MRSA isolates were tested for the presence of qacA/B genes and mupirocin resistance.. In pre-post analysis, the clinical incidence of MRSA significantly decreased by 61.6% after implementation of decolonization (P < .001). Meanwhile, interrupted time series analysis showed decreases in both the level (β = -0.686; P = .210) and trend (β = -0.011; P = .819) of clinical MRSA incidence, but these changes were not statistically significant. Of 169 MRSA isolates, 64 (37.8%) carried the qacA/B genes, and 22 (13.0%) showed either low- (n = 20) or high-level (n = 2) resistance to mupirocin. Low-level mupirocin resistance significantly increased from 0%-19.4% during the study period.. Although decolonization using antiseptic agents was helpful to decrease hospital-acquired MRSA rates, the emergence of antiseptic resistance should be monitored.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Critical Care; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Incidence; Intensive Care Units; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

A recent trial showed that universal decolonization in adult intensive care units (ICUs) resulted in greater reductions in all bloodstream infections and clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than either targeted decolonization or screening and isolation. Since regional health-care facilities are highly interconnected through patient-sharing, focusing on individual ICUs may miss the broader impact of decolonization. Using our Regional Healthcare Ecosystem Analyst simulation model of all health-care facilities in Orange County, California, we evaluated the impact of chlorhexidine baths and mupirocin on all ICU admissions when universal decolonization was implemented for 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of ICU beds countywide (compared with screening and contact precautions). Direct benefits were substantial in ICUs implementing decolonization (a median 60% relative reduction in MRSA prevalence). When 100% of countywide ICU beds were decolonized, there were spillover effects in general wards, long-term acute-care facilities, and nursing homes resulting in median 8.0%, 3.0%, and 1.9% relative MRSA reductions at 1 year, respectively. MRSA prevalence decreased by a relative 3.2% countywide, with similar effects for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. We showed that a large proportion of decolonization's benefits are missed when accounting only for ICU impact. Approximately 70% of the countywide cases of MRSA carriage averted after 1 year of universal ICU decolonization were outside the ICU.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Infective Agents; Beds; California; Chlorhexidine; Computer Simulation; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

Topical antimicrobials are often employed for decolonization and infection prevention and may alter the endogenous microbiota of the skin. The objective of this study was to compare the microbial communities and levels of richness and diversity in community-dwelling subjects and intensive care unit (ICU) patients before and after the use of topical decolonization protocols. We enrolled 15 adults at risk for Staphylococcus aureus infection. Community subjects (n = 8) underwent a 5-day decolonization protocol (twice daily intranasal mupirocin and daily dilute bleach-water baths), and ICU patients (n = 7) received daily chlorhexidine baths. Swab samples were collected from 5 anatomic sites immediately before and again after decolonization. A variety of culture media and incubation environments were used to recover bacteria and fungi; isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Overall, 174 unique organisms were recovered. Unique communities of organisms were recovered from the community-dwelling and hospitalized cohorts. In the community-dwelling cohort, microbial richness and diversity did not differ significantly between collections across time points, although the number of body sites colonized with S. aureus decreased significantly over time (P = 0.004). Within the hospitalized cohort, richness and diversity decreased over time compared to those for the enrollment sampling (from enrollment to final sampling, P = 0.01 for both richness and diversity). Topical antimicrobials reduced the burden of S. aureus while preserving other components of the skin and nasal microbiota.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Skin; Sodium Hypochlorite; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Population Surveillance; Staphylococcal Infections

To evaluate whether topical mupirocin treatment can effectively decolonize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage and reduce subsequent MRSA infection in neonates.. During a 1-year period, the infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)-1 and NICU-2 were included, and specimens from the nares and umbilicus were obtained within 24 hours, and specimen collection was repeated weekly for 2 weeks. Mupirocin was administered for 5 days to the infants with MRSA colonization in NICU-1 during the first half of the year and then switched to those in NICU-2 during the second half of the year.. A total of 525 infants were recruited: 257 infants in the treatment group and 268 in the control group. MRSA colonization was detected in 130 infants (25%) during NICU stay, which is a similar rate in both groups. Twenty-two (4.2%) episodes of MRSA infection were identified. The rate of MRSA infection was significantly higher in infants with prior colonization than in those without (10.2% vs. 2.3%, P<0.001). Among the infants with prior colonization, the rate of MRSA infection in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (3.2% vs. 16%, P=0.014), and the rate in the treatment group was comparable to that in those without colonization (P=0.7804). Of the 15 infants with both clinical and colonizing isolates, indistinguishable strains between the paired isolates from the same infant by molecular methods were identified in 14 infants (93%).. Administering mupirocin topical therapy to MRSA-colonized infants in NICUs might reduce subsequent MRSA infections during hospitalization in these infants. A large-scale study should be conducted.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Odds Ratio; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Taiwan

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading pathogen of healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units (ICUs). Prior studies have shown that decolonization of MRSA carriers is an effective method to reduce MRSA infections in ICU patients. However, there is currently a lack of data on its effect on mortality and medical cost.. Using a quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series design with re-introduction of intervention, we evaluated the impact of active screening and decolonization on MRSA infections, mortality and medical costs in the surgical ICU of a university hospital in Taiwan. Regression models were used to adjust for effects of confounding variables.. MRSA infection rate decreased from 3.58 (baseline) to 0.42‰ (intervention period) (P <0.05), re-surged to 2.21‰ (interruption period) and decreased to 0.18‰ (re-introduction of intervention period) (P <0.05). Patients admitted to the surgical ICU during the intervention periods had a lower in-hospital mortality (13.5% (155 out of 1,147) versus 16.6% (203 out of 1,226), P = 0.038). After adjusting for effects of confounding variables, the active screening and decolonization program was independently associated with a decrease in in-hospital MRSA infections (adjusted odds ratio: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.8) and 90-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7 to 0.99). Cost analysis showed that $22 medical costs can be saved for every $1 spent on the intervention.. Active screening for MRSA and decolonization in ICU settings is associated with a decrease in MRSA infections, mortality and medical cost.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Female; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Staphylococcal Infections; Taiwan

In a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial, we showed that acquired infections in intubated patients were reduced by the combination of topical polymyxin plus tobramycin and nasal mupirocin plus chlorhexidine body wash. Because intubated patients are particularly at risk for acquired infections, we reassessed the impact of this protocol as a routine procedure to control acquired infections in the ICU.. Nonrandomized study comparing acquired infections in ICU patients during two 1-year periods: the last year before (group A, n = 925) and the first year after the implementation of the protocol (group B, n = 1,022). Acquired infections were prospectively recorded.. Polyvalent medical ICU at a university-affiliated hospital.. All patients admitted to the ICU.. Administration of polymyxin/tobramycin/amphotericin B in the oropharynx and the gastric tube plus a mupirocin/chlorhexidine regimen in intubated patients and standard care in the other patients.. The comparison of acquired infection rates between groups was adjusted for differences at baseline. Infection rates were lower in group B compared with group A (5.3% vs 11.0%; p < 0.001), as were the incidence rates of total acquired infections (9.4 vs 23.6 per 1,000 patient-days; p < 0.001), intubation-related pneumonia (5.1 vs 17.1 per 1,000 ventilator-days; p < 0.001), and catheter-related bloodstream infections (1.0 vs 3.5 per 1,000 catheter-days; p = 0.03). There were fewer acquired infections caused by ceftazidime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (0.8‰ vs 3.6‰; p < 0.001), ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (0.8‰ vs 2.5‰; p = 0.02), ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.5‰ vs 1.6‰; p = 0.05), and colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (0.7‰ vs 1.9‰; p = 0.04). Fewer patients got acquired infections due to multidrug-resistant aerobic Gram-negative bacilli (p = 0.008).. In intubated patients, the use of topical polymyxin/tobramycin/amphotericin B plus mupirocin/chlorhexidine was associated with the reduction of all-cause ICU-acquired infections. Long-term emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms deserves further investigation.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Amphotericin B; Anti-Infective Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Chlorhexidine; Clinical Protocols; Cross Infection; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Intubation; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Polymyxins; Prospective Studies; Tobramycin

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) continues to be a leading cause of outbreaks and health-care-associated infections in neonatal intensive care units. In the first few months of life, many neonates acquire S. aureus as part of their delicate and evolving microbiota. Neonates that asymptomatically acquire S. aureus colonization are at increased risk of developing a subsequent S. aureus infection. This review discusses the epidemiology and prevention of S. aureus disease in neonates and how decolonization to eradicate S. aureus may decrease S. aureus transmission and infections in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Asymptomatic Diseases; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Mupirocin; Risk Assessment; Staphylococcal Infections

Hospital-acquired infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a source of morbidity and mortality. S. aureus is the most common pathogen in prosthetic joint infections and the incidence of MRSA is increasing.. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the MRSA prevalence density rate at a specialty orthopaedic hospital before and after the implementation of a screening and decolonization protocol,(2) to compare our prevalence density to that of an affiliated university hospital, to control for changes in MRSA prevalence density that might have been independent of the decolonization protocol, and (3) to measure the admission prevalence density rate of MRSA in an elective orthopaedic surgery population and the compliance rate of 26 patients with the protocol [corrected].. In October 2008, we implemented a MRSA screening and decolonization protocol for patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. Nasal swabs were used for screening and mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine skin antisepsis where prescribed for decolonization to all patients. At the surgical visit, compliance was measured and the patients who were MRSA positive received vancomycin for antibiotic prophylaxis. Institution wide surveillance for multidrug-resistant organisms, including MRSA provided a comparison of the change in MRSA burden at the orthopaedic hospital versus the university hospital.. Before implementation of the preoperative staphylococcal decolonization protocol there were 79 MRSA-positive cultures in 64,327 patient-days for a prevalence density rate of 1.23 per 1000 patient-days. After protocol implementation, 53 MRSA-positive cultures were identified in 63,860 patient-days for a rate of 0.83 per 1000 patient-days. Before the protocol, the MRSA prevalence density at the specialty hospital was similar to that of the university hospital; after implementation of the protocol, the prevalence density at the specialty hospital was 33% lower than that of the university hospital. The MRSA admission prevalence was 3.02%. The compliance rate was greater than 95%.. Implementation of a staphylococcal decolonization protocol at a single specialty orthopaedic hospital decreased the prevalence density of MRSA.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Chi-Square Distribution; Chlorhexidine; Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Elective Surgical Procedures; Hospitals, University; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Mass Screening; Medication Adherence; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Orthopedic Procedures; Patient Admission; Prevalence; Program Evaluation; Staphylococcal Infections; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vancomycin

Hospital roommates are cohorted with similarly colonized patients to decrease methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission risk. However, little is known about differences in S aureus nasal and extranasal carriage between hospital roommates who are in MRSA or non-MRSA designated rooms.. Patients sharing hospital rooms were cultured for S aureus in the nose, throat, and other body sites. Differences in S aureus methicillin and mupirocin susceptibility and USA300 type were evaluated.. Eighty-two patients comprising 48 roommate pairs were studied. Among 6 roommate pairs in MRSA rooms, 3 (50%) had differences in carriage based on having methicillin-susceptible S aureus at an extranasal body site. In non-MRSA rooms, 19 (45%) roommate pairs had differences in S aureus carriage. Extranasal colonization was significantly associated with discordance between roommates, P < .001. Antibiotic exposure, ward type, and the duration of room sharing were not associated with discordance.. Patients have almost a 50% chance of having differences in S aureus colonization compared with their hospital roommate, even in MRSA-designated rooms. Cohorting by MRSA status at the time of admission may not be as effective a control strategy as horizontal measures that do not rely on known colonization with S aureus or other pathogens.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Asymptomatic Infections; Cross Infection; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Patients' Rooms; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections

The aim of this study was to investigate the genotypes of mupirocin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MR-MRSA) isolates in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and their potential source.. One hundred one MRSA isolates obtained from 59 inborn and 42 outborn infants were identified and their antimicrobial susceptibility determined. Using pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis, MR-MRSA isolates obtained from the neonatal patients in the NICU were compared with those from adult hospitalized in the same hospital and with community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) isolates recovered from different hospitals in Korea.. Overall, 47% of CA-MRSA and 79% of healthcare-associated MRSA isolates exhibited high-level mupirocin resistance (HLMR). Forty-five percent of the outborn infants were considered to have CA-MRSA at the time of admission to our NICU. Most HLMR-MRSA isolates from neonates were grouped into a single cluster by PFGE analysis, and which included CA-MRSA isolates with HLMR recovered from outborn infants who were already colonized when they were transferred to our NICU. They belonged to the same PFGE group as the community-genotype strains isolated from different hospitals in Korea. HLMR-MRSA isolates from adults patients were classified as different clones. None of the attending staff in the NICU were nasal carriers.. Community-genotype strains of MRSA with HLMR may be imported to our NICU through obstetrics clinics and contribute to MRSA colonization or infection in facilities with a high rate of admission of outborn infants.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Genotype; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Male; Methicillin; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Republic of Korea; Staphylococcal Infections

As the number of CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue infections continues to grow, it's important to know which patients are at greatest risk and which evidence-based treatment protocols to turn to when needed.

Topics: Acetamides; Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clindamycin; Community-Acquired Infections; Continuity of Patient Care; Cross Infection; Ethnicity; Humans; Linezolid; Medical History Taking; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Oxazolidinones; Patient Education as Topic; Physical Examination; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Rifampin; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) decolonization is a widely established, though controversial part of many MRSA controlling strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate our decolonization success rate, identify the risk factors for decolonization failure and determine the optimal duration of follow-up in our low MRSA prevalence setting (2.6 % of isolates).. Every patient with newly detected MRSA colonization or infection between January 2007 and December 2009 was recruited to the study. The MRSA strategy of our institution (a 700 bed tertiary hospital in eastern Switzerland) consists of a 5-day regimen of nasal mupirocin ointment, chlorhexidin mouth rinse and whole body wash with didecyldimonium chloride. Systemic antibiotics are usually not added to the regimen.. We determined a MRSA decolonization success rate of 65 % (33/51) after a median follow-up of 13 months [i.e. a tripling of the spontaneous clearance rate of 22 % (6/27) in the non-decolonized group]. The most important risk factor for decolonization failure was colonization of the respiratory tract [odds risk (OR) 9.1, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-66.7], as well as isolation of MRSA spa-type 002 ([R 5.8, 95 % CI 1.0-33.3). Of all the episodes of MRSA recurrence, 88 % (14/16) were detected within 270 days after decolonization.. High MRSA decolonization success rates can be achieved without the routine use of oral antibiotics. A time period of 1 year after decolonization seems to be a reasonable duration of follow-up in our setting. We encourage other institutions to take into account local MRSA epidemiology (e.g. predominance of certain subtypes) for the management of MRSA patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Inpatients; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Switzerland; Tertiary Care Centers

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become an important hospital-acquired pathogen, with transfer of the organism from a carrier or infected patient to uninfected patients by the hands or clothing of staff as the main mode of transmission.. Investigation of a cluster of new cases of MRSA resistant to mupirocin and fusidic acid, using epidemiological and microbiological resources.. From September 2010 to February 2012, sixteen patients had at least one culture positive for MRSA resistant to mupirocin and fusidic acid. Some not apparently related cases and outbreaks appeared. By analysing cultures taken from patients and staff using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, it was demonstrated that most likely this situation was started by an auxiliary nurse who was a carrier of the MRSA. Healthcare worker decontamination using oral antibiotic therapy was unsuccessful. Eventually, the situation was controlled by placing the carrier in a different job, with no further cases to date (September, 2012).. This report illustrates the risk of nosocomial transmission linked to care delivered by healthcare workers.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Fusidic Acid; Humans; Incidence; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Nursing Assistants; Ointments; Personnel, Hospital; Retrospective Studies; Spain; Staphylococcal Infections; Tertiary Care Centers

A total of 299 nares and 194 blood isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), each recovered from a unique patient, were collected from 23 U.S. hospitals from May 2009 to March 2010. All isolates underwent spa and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element (SCCmec) typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing; a subset of 84 isolates was typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using SmaI. Seventy-six spa types were observed among the isolates. Overall, for nasal isolates, spa type t002-SCCmec type II (USA100) was the most common strain type (37% of isolates), while among blood isolates, spa type t008-SCCmec type IV (USA300) was the most common (39%). However, the proportion of all USA100 and USA300 isolates varied by United States census region. Nasal isolates were more resistant to tobramycin and clindamycin than blood isolates (55.9% and 48.8% of isolates versus 36.6% and 39.7%, respectively; for both, P < 0.05). The USA300 isolates were largely resistant to fluoroquinolones. High-level mupirocin resistance was low among all spa types (<5%). SCCmec types III and VIII, which are rare in the United States, were observed along with several unusual PFGE types, including CMRSA9, EMRSA15, and the PFGE profile associated with sequence type 239 (ST239) isolates. Typing data from this convenience sample suggest that in U.S. hospitalized patients, USA100 isolates of multiple spa types, while still common in the nares, have been replaced by USA300 isolates as the predominant MRSA strain type in positive blood cultures.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Clindamycin; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Tobramycin; United States

To describe the dynamics of colonization by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detected in the Haemodialysis Unit (UHD) of the Hospital San Pedro de Alcantara of Caceres due to the detection of catheter-associated infections. Additionally, we attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive strategies introduced.. Nasal swab tests were performed in order to detect MRSA colonization in patients and health professionals from August 2008 to January 2009, according to the Consensus GEIH-SEIMC Y SEMPSPH Consensus. An active surveillance was performed with treatment and control of the carriers until negative results were achieved. A consensus document was drawn up in the UHD with registered preventive measures and work systems were reviewed. Prevalence, cumulative incidence, colonization pressure (carrier ratio per day/total patients or experts per day) were calculated. A chi-square test was performed, as well as a Z test for the comparison ratio.. The nasal swabs of 54 acute and chronic patients on haemodialysis showed an initial carrier prevalence of 29.6%; cumulative incidence in patients of 42.6%. Nasal swabs of 48 professionals had a cumulative incidence of 39.5%. There was a parallel decrease in colonization pressure in patients and specialists. After five months A smear was performed 5 months later on 40 patients and 26 specialists, which showed no carriers among the patients, and one among the health professionals.. We detected a high number of MRSA carriers among patients and Health professionals from the Haemodialysis Unit. Screening and treatment measures were effective for the decolonization of this population. It is important to adopt long-term strategies for active surveillance for the rapid detection of alert situations.

Topics: Adult; Algorithms; Bacterial Load; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Reservoirs; Endemic Diseases; Fusidic Acid; Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Patients; Personnel, Hospital; Prevalence; Risk; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Clindamycin; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Genotype; Humans; India; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Typing; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Tertiary Care Centers

Our objective was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in workers who had direct contact with oncologic patients infected with MRSA and admitted to the intensive care unit of the Valencian Institute of Oncology. A study of prevalence of MRSA colonization of 62 workers was performed. Samples were taken from nose and pharynx in each of the workers. After 24 hours of incubation in Amies transport medium Viscose (Eurotubo®), 124 samples were seeded (N = 124) in chocolate agar agar, MRSA II and BHI broth (Brain Heart Infusion). Those colonies that were identified by Gram stain gram-positive cocci in clusters available, catalase positive and coagulase positive were processed for study of sensitivity by Kirby-Bauer method and screening test for methicillin (10μg of Oxoid®) on Mueller-Hinton (Becton-Dickinson®, BD), supplemented with NaCl (2%). Those confirmed MRSA isolates, he returned to perform sensitivity study by microdilution (MicroScan®, Siemens) to determine the MIC (mg/L). The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 1.61% (1) and 12.90% (8) for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), from nostrils. The measures implemented were: nasal application of mupirocin to the worker colonized control isolation measures in infected patients and indoctrination of the personnel involved.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Cancer Care Facilities; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Culture Media; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Infection Control; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Neoplasms; Oncology Service, Hospital; Personnel, Hospital; Pharynx; Staphylococcal Infections

We evaluated the effectiveness of eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in the Netherlands after the introduction of a guideline in 2006. The guideline distinguishes complicated (defined as the presence of MRSA infection, skin lesions, foreign-body material, mupirocin resistance and/or exclusive extranasal carriage) and uncomplicated carriage (not meeting criteria for complicated carriage). Mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine soap solution are recommended for uncomplicated carriers and the same treatment in combination with two oral antibiotics for complicated carriage.. A prospective cohort study was performed in 18 Dutch centres from 1 October 2006 until 1 October 2008.. Six hundred and thirteen MRSA carriers underwent one or more decolonization treatments during the study period, mostly after hospital discharge. Decolonization was achieved in 367 (60%) patients with one eradication attempt and ultimately 493 (80%) patients were decolonized, with a median time until decolonization of 10 days (interquartile range 7-43 days). Three hundred and twenty-seven (62%) carriers were treated according to the guideline, which was associated with an absolute increase in treatment success of 20% [from 45% (91/203) to 65% (214/327)].. Sixty percent of MRSA carriers were successfully decolonized after the first eradication attempt and 62% were treated according to the guideline, which was associated with an increased treatment success.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Asymptomatic Infections; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cohort Studies; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Netherlands; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Staphylococcal Infections; Treatment Outcome

The rate of mupirocin resistance in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Besançon University Hospital is low with a decreasing trend, from 10% in 2004 to 3% in 2009. This trend in resistance paralleled mupirocin consumption. Genotyping results showed that this decrease was not linked to a change in MRSA clones. It appears that the way in which the mupirocin is used, rather than the volume, plays a role in the emergence of resistance and that its cautious use is likely to maintain the mupirocin resistance at a low level, thus preserving its efficacy.

Topics: Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Drug Utilization; Genotype; Hospitals; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Molecular Typing; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Humans; Mass Screening; Medication Adherence; Mupirocin; Pharmacy Service, Hospital; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

High-level mupirocin resistance results from the acquisition of a mupirocin resistance (Mupr) plasmid carrying the mupA gene. In this study, we investigated the heterogeneous location of the mupA gene as well as sequence variations in mupA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) types of high-level mupirocin-resistant (MuH) staphylococci isolated from tertiary hospitals and long-term care facilities in South Korea. RFLP patterns of the mupA gene were investigated in 14 MuH staphylococci isolates, and sequence variations of the cassette-like construction composed of the transfer gene complex (trs), an insertion sequence (IS257-like) and the mupA gene of the Mupr plasmid were also studied. Among the 14 isolates, four different EcoRI/HindIII banding patterns were observed, which were determined to be caused by sequence deletion between the mupA gene and trsLM of the trs gene complex. Four different sequence types were also identified for the trsLM-IS257-like-mupA cassette. The IS257-like sequence of all MuH staphylococci showed two base pair substitutions and one base deletion compared with the sequence of IS257. The heterogeneous location of the mupA gene was caused by sequence deletion adjacent to the IS257-like sequence of the trsLM-IS257-like-mupA cassette construction, and the IS257-like sequence was found in all MuH staphylococci.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Cross Infection; DNA Transposable Elements; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Genotype; Hospitals; Humans; Long-Term Care; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Molecular Sequence Data; Mupirocin; Nuclear Proteins; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Republic of Korea; Sequence Analysis; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: 2-Propanol; Anti-Infective Agents; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Povidone-Iodine; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Surgical Wound Infection

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Hospitals, Community; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nursing Homes; Staphylococcal Infections; United Kingdom

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Infective Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Mupirocin; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Surgical Wound Infection

To evaluate the effects of an active surveillance program for Staphylococcus aureus linked to a decolonization protocol on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection and new nasal colonization due to S. aureus.. Retrospective quasi-experimental study.. An 18-bed medical intensive care unit at a tertiary care center in Cleveland, Ohio.. From January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007, all patients in the medical intensive care unit were screened for S. aureus nasal carriage at admission and weekly thereafter. During the preintervention period, January 1 through September 30, 2006, only surveillance occurred. During the intervention period, January 1 through December 31, 2007, S. aureus carriers received mupirocin intranasally. Beginning in February 2007, carriers also received chlorhexidine gluconate baths.. During the preintervention period, 604 (73.7%) of 819 patients were screened for S. aureus nasal carriage, yielding 248 prevalent carriers (30.3%). During the intervention period, 752 (78.3%) of 960 patients were screened, yielding 276 carriers (28.8%). The incidence of S. aureus carriage decreased from 25 cases in 3,982 patient-days (6.28 cases per 1,000 patient-days) before intervention to 18 cases in 5,415 patient-days (3.32 cases per 1,000 patient-days) (P=.04; relative risk [RR], 0.53 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.28-0.97]) and from 9.57 to 4.77 cases per 1,000 at-risk patient-days (P=.02; RR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.27-0.91]). The incidence of S. aureus hospital-acquired bloodstream infection during the 2 periods was 2.01 and 1.11 cases per 1,000 patient-days, respectively (P=.28). The incidence of S. aureus ventilator-associated pneumonia decreased from 1.51 to 0.18 cases per 1,000 patient-days (P=.03; RR, 0.12 [95% CI, 0.01-0.83]). The total incidence of S. aureus hospital-acquired infection decreased from 3.52 to 1.29 cases per 1,000 patient-days (P=.03; RR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.14-0.90]).. Active surveillance for S. aureus nasal carriage combined with decolonization was associated with a decreased incidence of S. aureus colonization and hospital-acquired infection.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Incidence; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Ohio; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Bacteremia; Baths; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Florida; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Hospitals, Special; Humans; Infection Control; Long-Term Care; Mupirocin; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated

We compared the cost-effectiveness of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) programme of active surveillance plus decolonization with the current Veterans Health Administration (VHA) strategy of active surveillance alone, as well as a common strategy of no surveillance. A decision-analytical model was developed for an inpatient stay time horizon, using the VHA's perspective. Model inputs were taken from published literature where available, and supplemented with expert opinion when necessary. Effectiveness outcomes were hospital-acquired MRSA infections and deaths avoided. One-way and two-way sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations were performed. In the base-case analysis, the strategy of active surveillance plus decolonization dominated (i.e. lower cost and greater effectiveness) both the comparison strategies of active surveillance and no surveillance. In addition, the active surveillance strategy dominated the strategy of no surveillance. One-way and two-way sensitivity analyses demonstrated that at low levels of direct benefit of decolonization (1-4%), the strategy of active surveillance plus decolonization would no longer be dominant. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, active surveillance plus decolonization dominated both the other two strategies, and the active surveillance strategy dominated no surveillance in all of 1000 Monte Carlo simulations. These results provide a strong economic argument for adding an MRSA decolonization protocol to the current VHA active surveillance strategy.

Topics: Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross Infection; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Disinfectants; Hospitalization; Humans; Length of Stay; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Monte Carlo Method; Mupirocin; Sentinel Surveillance; Staphylococcal Infections; Veterans Health

The problem of intensive care unit methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has led to routine surveillance and eradication strategies.. Our surgical intensive care unit (SICU) admissions receive MRSA nares cultures and if positive are isolated followed by eradication treatment. This strategy was retrospectively reviewed.. Our nares-positive culture rate was 21% (30/145), and the sputum positive (sputum+) rate was 18% (26/145). Positive nares culture (Nares+) was eradicated in 63%. The rate of sputum+ in Nares+ patients was 36% (9/25). The rate of sputum+ in Nares- was 10% (12/115; P = .003). The sputum+ SICU length of stay (LOS) (18 ± 12 days in 23 S+ patients) is longer than in sputum- (10 ± 9 days in 69 S-patients, P = .0002).. This SICU has high rates of both nares and sputum MRSA cultures. Our data suggest eradicating nares colonization may prevent pneumonia and might decrease SICU LOS.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Pneumonia, Staphylococcal; Sputum

The objectives of this study were to determine the susceptibility of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates to Mupirocin and other antimicrobial agents and to record the prevalence and distribution of this organism at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).. MRSA isolates collected between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008, were tested for low and high level resistance to Mupirocin. Susceptibility testing to other antibiotics including cotrimoxazole, minocycline, tetracycline, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin and vancomycin was also done. Laboratory records for all patients from whom MRSA was recovered were reviewed and data on type and source of isolates, clinical diagnosis, history of previous hospitalization and use of mupirocin were extracted. In addition, the laboratory records for 2004 and 2005 were also reviewed to determine prevalence during these periods.. Seven per cent of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to methicillin (MRSA) and of these, 30% and 24% showed low level and high level resistance to mupirocin, respectively. Ninety-four per cent of MRSA strains were resistant to erythromycin while 52% showed resistance to clindamycin. Resistance to tetracycline, co-trimoxazole and minocycline was 27%, 12% and 6%, respectively, while about one-third of the isolates were resistant to gentamicin. There was no resistance to vancomycin. More than half (58%) of the isolates were from skin and soft tissue specimens while isolates from respiratory and urinary tracts and the bloodstream accounted for 19%, 13% and 4%, respectively. There has been a steady increase in prevalence from 4% in 2004 to 5% in 2007 and 7% in 2008.. Resistance of MRSA to mupirocin appears to be an emerging problem at the UHWI and must be monitored carefully. There is also significant resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents and strict adherence to antibiotic policy is required to preserve the usefulness of these agents.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Hospitals; Humans; Jamaica; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Prevalence; Staphylococcal Infections

Various strategies for controlling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have been tried, with varying levels of success. We report a MRSA outbreak occurring between April 2004 and August 2007 in a 24-bed NICU in a large university hospital. We describe the difficulties involved in implementing measures to control the MRSA outbreak and the possible contribution of each measure.. Cases were defined as neonates with MRSA obtained from either clinical cultures or surveillance cultures (from the anterior nares). Systematic screening of neonates for colonization was performed only between February and December 2005. Successive control strategies included barrier precaution and isolation in individual rooms, mupirocine ointment for neonates and health care workers, cohort isolation, hand hygiene observation, and staff training.. During the routine surveillance culture period (February to December 2005; 48 weeks), 46 neonates were found to be positive for MRSA and were treated with mupirocin. After December 2005, the outbreak was controlled, but the ongoing spread was not eradicated; 9 sporadic MRSA cases were detected by clinical culture up to August 2007.. The widespread use of mupirocine in staff and patients did not control the outbreak and is not recommended. The later control appeared to coincide with increased hand hygiene audits and training for staff, along with appropriate cohort isolation of neonates and cohort nursing.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Education; France; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Patient Isolation; Sentinel Surveillance; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nuclear Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Spain; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Staphylococcal Infections; Treatment Outcome

Since methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become one of the most prevalent nosocomial pathogens and a frequent cause of mortality and morbidity, there is an increasing tendency to use topical mupirocin for eradication of MRSA carriage. However, there have been recent reports of resistance against mupirocin among MRSA isolates. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of mupirocin resistance in a population of 595 nosocomial MRSA isolates by phenotypic and genotypic methods. In 35 (5.9%) of 595 isolates, mupirocin resistance was detected by disc diffusion and E-test methods. High-level mupirocin resistance was detected in 23 (65.8%) isolates and low-level mupirocin resistance in 12 (34.2%) isolates by E-test method. The molecular analysis of 35 mupirocin resistant MRSA isolates showed the presence of both mecA and mupA genes by polymerase chain reaction. While in 23 high-level mupirocin resistant MRSA isolates a 38 kb plasmid was detected, none of the low-level mupirocin-resistant MRSA isolates revealed the presence of this plasmid. Thirty-two of 35 mupirocin resistant MRSA isolates were genotyped with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and 24 isolates were typed as identical (genotype A) and 8 as genetically-related (genotype A1), according to Tenover criteria. These data revealed that mupirocin resistant MRSA isolates in our hospital were of the same genotype or closely related.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Genotype; Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nuclear Proteins; Penicillin-Binding Proteins; Phenotype; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Austria; Cross Infection; Drug Contamination; Hospitals, University; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Ointments; Pantothenic Acid; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

There are two important routes for the transmission of Staphylococcus aureus to the burn wound. In the endogenous route, patients naturally carrying S. aureus colonize their own wounds, whereas in the exogenous route burn wounds are cross-infected from other sources. In this study we evaluated the effect of blocking the endogenous route on S. aureus burn wound colonization by mupirocin application in the nose of patients at the time of admission.. From September 2000 to January 2002 all patients with burns admitted to a single dedicated Burn Centre received nasal mupirocin upon admission. This period was compared to two control periods (C1: July 1999 to July 2000 and C2: January 2002 to January 2003) for S. aureus burn wound colonization. The colonization risk was analysed, adjusting for confounding, with Cox proportional hazard regression.. A total of 98 patients did not have S. aureus burn wound colonization at the time of admission and were, thus, considered at risk for S. aureus acquisition during their stay. As compared to C1, the relative risk of acquiring S. aureus in their wound was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.24-0.97) in the mupirocin period and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.28-1.1) during the C2 period. S. aureus nasal/pharyngeal colonization was a significant independent risk factor for wound colonization (RR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2-4.2).. Nasal mupirocin may contribute to risk reduction of S. aureus wound colonization in patients with burns.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Burns; Cross Infection; Drug Administration Routes; Female; Humans; Male; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Nose; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

The effect of large-scale expanded surveillance for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on health care-associated MRSA disease is not known.. To examine the effect of 2 expanded surveillance interventions on MRSA disease.. Observational study comparing rates of MRSA clinical disease during and after hospital admission in 3 consecutive periods: baseline (12 months), MRSA surveillance for all admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) (12 months), and universal MRSA surveillance for all hospital admissions (21 months).. A 3-hospital, 850-bed organization with approximately 40,000 annual admissions.. Polymerase chain reaction-based nasal surveillance for MRSA followed by topical decolonization therapy and contact isolation of patients who tested positive for MRSA.. Poisson and segmented regression models were used to compare prevalence density of hospital-associated clinical MRSA disease (bloodstream, respiratory, urinary tract, and surgical site) in each period. Rates of bloodstream disease with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus were used as a control.. The prevalence density of aggregate hospital-associated MRSA disease (all body sites) per 10,000 patient-days at baseline, during ICU surveillance, and during universal surveillance was 8.9 (95% CI, 7.6 to 10.4), 7.4 (CI, 6.1 to 9.0; P = 0.15 compared with baseline), and 3.9 (CI, 3.2 to 4.7; P < 0.001 compared with baseline and ICU surveillance), respectively. During universal surveillance, the prevalence density of MRSA infection at each body site had a statistically significant decrease compared with baseline. The methicillin-susceptible S. aureus bacteremia rate did not statistically significantly change during the 3 periods. In a segmented regression model, the aggregate hospital-associated MRSA disease prevalence density changed by -36.2% (CI, -65.4% to 9.8%; P = 0.17) from baseline to ICU surveillance and by -69.6% (CI, -89.2% to -19.6%]; P = 0.03) from baseline to universal surveillance. During universal surveillance, the MRSA disease rate decreased during hospitalization and in the 30 days after discharge; no further reduction occurred thereafter. Surveillance with clinical cultures would have identified 17.8% of actual MRSA patient-days, and ICU-based surveillance with polymerase chain reaction would have identified 33.3%.. The findings rely on observational data.. The introduction of universal admission surveillance for MRSA was associated with a large reduction in MRSA disease during admission and 30 days after discharge.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Disinfectants; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Patient Admission; Poisson Distribution; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; United States; Universal Precautions

We report a significant reduction in the number of surgical site infections (SSIs) due to meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery after the introduction of preoperative screening using a same-day polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. This was an observational cohort study set in a cardiac surgery unit based in southwest England. We studied 1462 patients admitted for cardiac surgery between October 2004 and September 2006. The IDI MRSA PCR test was used preoperatively to screen 765 patients between October 2005 and September 2006. Patients identified as carriers were treated with nasal mupirocin ointment and topical triclosan for five days, with single-dose teicoplanin instead of flucloxacillin as perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. The rate of SSI following cardiac surgery in this group was compared to 697 patients who underwent surgery without screening between October 2004 and September 2005. After introduction of PCR screening, the overall rate of SSI fell from 3.30% to 2.22% with a significant reduction in the rate of MRSA infections (relative risk reduction: 0.77; 95% confidence interval: 0.056-0.95). PCR screening combined with suppression of MRSA at the time of cardiac surgery is feasible in routine clinical practice and is associated with a significant reduction in subsequent MRSA SSIs.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Cohort Studies; Cross Infection; England; Humans; Mass Screening; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection; Teicoplanin; Thoracic Surgery; Triclosan

Mupirocin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is increasingly being reported in many parts of the world. This study describes the epidemiology and laboratory characterization of mupirocin-resistant methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains in Canadian hospitals. Broth microdilution susceptibility testing of 4,980 MRSA isolates obtained between 1995 and 2004 from 32 Canadian hospitals was done in accordance with CLSI guidelines. The clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of strains with high-level mupirocin resistance (HLMup(r)) were compared with those of mupirocin-susceptible (Mup(s)) strains. MRSA strains were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and typing of the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec. PCR was done to detect the presence of the mupA gene. For strains with mupA, plasmid DNA was extracted and subjected to Southern blot hybridization. A total of 198 (4.0%) HLMup(r) MRSA isolates were identified. The proportion of MRSA strains with HLMup(r) increased from 1.6% in the first 5 years of surveillance (1995 to 1999) to 7.0% from 2000 to 2004 (P < 0.001). Patients with HLMup(r) MRSA strains were more likely to have been aboriginal (odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 9.4; P = 0.006), to have had community-associated MRSA (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0 to 5.0; P = 0.05), and to have been colonized with MRSA (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.0; P = 0.04). HLMup(r) MRSA strains were also more likely to be resistant to fusidic acid (21% versus 4% for mupirocin-susceptible strains; P < 0.001). All HLMup(r) MRSA strains had a plasmid-associated mupA gene, most often associated with a 9-kb HindIII fragment. PFGE typing and analysis of the plasmid profiles indicate that both plasmid transmission and the clonal spread of HLMup(r) MRSA have occurred in Canadian hospitals. These results indicate that the incidence of HLMup(r) is increasing among Canadian strains of MRSA and that HLMup(r) MRSA is recovered from patients with distinct clinical and epidemiologic characteristics compared to the characteristics of patents with Mup(s) MRSA strains.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Canada; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Decontamination; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Soaps; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

This study reports an investigation of outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and colonization involving 17 newborns in the neonatal unit of a teaching hospital. A neonatal specialist colonized with MRSA that eventually became mupirocin-resistant was implicated as a recurrent source of transmission of MRSA to newborns.

Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; France; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Neonatology; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Umbilical Cord

To prevent transmission of MRSA, eradication by antiseptic washings and nasal ointment is recommended. There are few studies, which investigated the success of eradication of MRSA carriage during everyday clinical working conditions and results are controversial. We wanted to assess the effectiveness of MRSA eradication procedures--especially octenidine whole body washings and mupirocin nasal ointment--under conditions of everyday life.. We retrospectively analyzed the files of all patients who were admitted to the medical department of a tertiary care hospital between 1999 and 2004 and who were infected or colonized by MRSA. According to hospital's standards of care patients should have been washed with octenidine and should have got mupirocin nasal ointment only in case of nasal carriage. Patients were regarded as MRSA-eradicated when swabs taken on three consecutive days, earliest, three days after discontinuation of antiseptic and antiinfective procedures were without proof of MRSA.. Only 6% of patients were eradicated. MRSA could be cultured from swabs taken on dismissal of 60% of patients. Fifteen percent of patients had only one or two negative series of swabs. In 19% of patients success of eradication remained unknown. Besides we found that under every day clinical working conditions compliance with several tasks of the eradication protocol was insufficient.. Under every day clinical working conditions MRSA eradication is successful only in few patients. Whole body washings should be tested in detailed studies before they should become a recommendation for eradication of MRSA.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Baths; Carrier State; Critical Pathways; Cross Infection; Decontamination; Disinfection; Female; Germany; Guideline Adherence; Hospitals, University; Humans; Imines; Infection Control; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Pyridines; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

We report the largest documented healthcare-associated outbreak of Panton-Valentine leucocidin-positive meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (PVL(+) MRSA) in Europe. Six index patients from three long-term care facilities (LTCFs) were screened positive for PVL(+) MRSA in 2004 on admission to a community hospital in Germany. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe the prevalence of PVL(+) MRSA in the LTCFs before and after infection control interventions. Screening for MRSA with or without PVL was performed in all three LTCFs in 2004 [453 residents, 240 healthcare workers (HCWs)] and 2005 (440 residents, 192 HCWs). Swabs from anterior nares and wounds, if applicable, were collected. Colonised residents and staff were treated with mupirocin nasal ointment and topical antiseptics, and staff were provided with hygiene education. Total MRSA carrier rate of residents and HCWs in 2004 was 11.3% (PVL(+) MRSA 9.1%, PVL(-) MRSA 2.2%). There were comparable carrier rates between residents and HCWs in each LTCF. All PVL(+) MRSA isolates were of clonal origin (MLST 22) representing a novel spa sequence type t310. A decrease in total MRSA prevalence (from 11.3 to 5.5%) and PVL(+) MRSA (from 9.1 to 3.3%) was observed in 2005. The rate of PVL(-) MRSA remained unaffected. No symptomatic skin infections were noted among residents or HCWs. In this outbreak incomplete control of PVL(+) MRSA presumably resulted from difficult and delayed detection and decolonisation of carriers, incomplete compliance with control measures and lack of enforcement by public health authorities.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacterial Toxins; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Exotoxins; Female; Germany; Guideline Adherence; Health Personnel; Humans; Infection Control; Leukocidins; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Patients; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Wounds and Injuries

Germany has witnessed increasing national methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates during the past 2 decades. In our 900-bed tertiary care community hospital, a similar increase was noted during the period from 1994 to 2002, although single-room isolation and decolonization therapy were the standard of care.. An intensified infection control program aimed at the reduction of nosocomial MRSA transmissions was developed in 2002 and translated into clinical practice in 2003. Essential components of the program were a detailed written MRSA standard, acquisition of signal-colored isolation gowns and storage carts facilitating the use of separate supplies for MRSA patients, intensified surveillance and feedback of MRSA data, "flagging" of formerly positive MRSA patients, and a general MRSA screening policy for all newly admitted patients on the surgical intensive care unit (ICU). The effect of the program was monitored by continuous surveillance of MRSA cases on all wards. The transmission index was defined as the ratio between secondary and "imported" MRSA cases.. Comparing the preintervention (2002) and postintervention (2005-2006) periods, the total number of MRSA patients, MRSA rates on the ICUs, and invasive MRSA infections on the ICUs were reduced. The MRSA transmission index fell from 2.1 (2002) to 0.8 (2006). The rate of deep incisional and organ/space infections due to MRSA occurring after orthopedic surgery was lowered from 0.74 to 0.15%.. Our data indicate that the efficacy of single-room isolation and decolonization therapy can be strongly enhanced by means of a multicomponent, comprehensive MRSA control program. The program was effective despite an increasing "import" of new MRSA cases. Programs of this type may be suited to achieve a downward turn of MRSA figures in Germany.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disinfection; Germany; Hospitals, Community; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Patient Isolation; Staphylococcal Infections; Universal Precautions

We identified 25 high-level mupirocin-resistant (MuH) and 21 low-level mupirocin-resistant (MuL) Staphylococcus aureus isolates from eight long-term-care facilities (LTCFs). The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of 19 MuH and 19 MuL isolates from two facilities were identical for 18 and 15 isolates, respectively. The most predominant mupA restriction fragment length polymorphism type was found in 21 MuH isolates. We conclude that clonal transmission of MuH and MuL S. aureus strains occurred in these LTCFs. This is the first report of clonal transfer of mupirocin resistance in LTCFs.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Cross Infection; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Korea; Long-Term Care; Mupirocin; Nuclear Proteins; Polymorphism, Genetic; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious nosocomial problem, globally distributed. Decolonization with mupirocin can be used to control its dissemination.. To determine the incidence of mupirocin resistance among MRSA carriers from an intensive care unit.. We obtained 2723 nasal swabs during 3 years. Resistance to methicillin and mupirocin were verified (agar diffusion and the E test) and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (mecA for methicillin; ileS-2 and mupA for mupirocin). Plasmid-curing procedure and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were employed in isolates exhibiting high resistance to mupirocin (HR-Mup) and in other selected organisms.. The overall incidence of HR-Mup among MRSA carriers during the studied period was 4.84% (8/165); however, the incidence decreased from 13.04% (6/46) in the first year to 3.5% (2/57) in the second year and was 0% in the last year (P = .02). LR-Mup, in contrast, increased significantly (P = .01).. Plasmid-curing procedure showed the plasmid location of genes responsible for HR-Mup. PFGE demonstrated that most MRSA, including the isolates with HR-Mup, were genetically related. The decline in HR-Mup may be attributable to the plasmid location of genes (ileS-2/mupA) and to the fact that all patients colonized with HR-Mup MRSA died or were discharged in a relatively short period of time.

Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Carrier State; Cross Infection; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Genes, Bacterial; Humans; Incidence; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Epidemiology; Mupirocin; Nose; Nuclear Proteins; Penicillin-Binding Proteins; Plasmids; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

After the introduction of routine treatment for every nasal carrier of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, active follow-up surveillance for nosocomial methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection was conducted for 5 years in an intensive care unit of a tertiary-care teaching hospital. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of nosocomial methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection during the later years of follow-up. Decolonization of nasal carriers of methicillin-resistant S. aureus is probably associated with such findings.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Brazil; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nose; Ointments; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

The long-term efficacy (55 months) of eradication of nasal carriage of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by mupirocin was assessed for MRSA infections in a gastroenterology unit receiving patients for long hospital stays. In total, 2242 patients were included in the study; 92% had been hospitalized in another hospital before admission to the study department, 64% had chronic liver diseases (LD), 25% had miscellaneous medical conditions and 11% were admitted following gastroenterological surgery. Three consecutive periods were considered in the analysis. Nasal carriage at admission was similar in all three periods (10.9 vs 7.5 vs 8.6% in Periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively), while acquired nasal carriage decreased in the whole population (14.3 vs 16.2 vs 10.2% in Periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively, P=0.006) and in LD patients (15.8 vs 18.7 vs 11.9% in Periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively, P=0.018). The incidence of MRSA infections (N per total number of hospitalization-days) was 1.41 per 1000 in the year before initiation of eradication, 1.40 in Period 1, 0.74 in Period 2 and 0.59 in Period 3 (P=0.022). The incidence of MRSA infections among patients was 7.0% in Period 1, 3.7% in Period 2 and 3.1% in Period 3 in LD patients (P=0.0062). The corresponding figures were 5.5, 3.0 and 2.4% for the whole population (P=0.0024). The mortality caused by MRSA was 0.31, 0.19 and 0.13% (P=0.035) in Periods 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The numbers of resistant strains among those acquired during hospitalization were 12 in Period 1, four in Period 2 and six in Period 3. Long-term intranasal mupirocin treatment in MRSA carrier patients with long hospital stay is associated with a decrease in acquired carriage and MRSA infections, while resistance of the strains to mupirocin does not increase provided that colonized patients are only treated once.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Reservoirs; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Length of Stay; Liver Diseases; Male; Mass Screening; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

The worldwide rise of MRSA is equivalent to an increase of nasal colonization with MRSA. The objectives of this study were to investigate the rate of occult nasal MRSA colonization in trauma patients, to elucidate the role of MRSA carriers for endogenous infection (nose --> wound) and to check the efficiency of mupirocin therapy.. A total of 643 consecutive trauma patients underwent MRSA screening (nasal swabs) on admission. At the same time all MRSA wound infections were registered and all isolates were analysed with PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) to detect cross-infection between individuals.. In 13 patients (2.0%) we found MRSA in the nose and limited isolation as well as therapy with mupirocin were performed. No endogenous transmission of MRSA from the nose to the wound could be seen, and no cross-infection to other patients could be detected.. Our findings suggest that in our patients with nasal colonization the risk of intra- and interindividual transmission of MRSA is very small. Therefore, in trauma patients screening on admission does not seem to be absolutely necessary either for clinical or for epidemiological reasons.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Mass Screening; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Ointments; Staphylococcus aureus; Time Factors; Wound Infection

In the hemodialytic population, infections are the second leading cause of death; access infections account for a large proportion of this mortality. The antibiotic lock technique has been applied to infected tunneled catheters as rescue or prophylaxis medication to reduce infection rates. In addition, application of topical antibiotic ointments to tunneled and non-tunneled catheters also prevents exit site infections.. 17 patients with 25 catheters participated in our study from March 2004 - February 2005. The catheter lock comprised of mixed cefazolin (5 mg/dl) with heparin (2,500 IU/ml) and mupirocin was topically applied to the area (2 x 2 cm) surrounding the catheter exit site.. The catheter infection rate was reduced from 12.7 times/1,000 catheter days to 5.02 times/1,000 catheter days in patients with jugular vein catheters. The total catheter-related infection rate was 14.9 times/1,000 catheter days in the control group and 4.1 times/1,000 catheter days in the study group. The reduction in catheter infections was more evident in a subgroup of non-diabetic patients, and in those with femoral catheters.. The use of antibiotic lock and topical antibiotics significantly reduces the incidence of temporary catheter-related infections, especially in non-diabetic patients and in those with femoral catheters.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Bacteremia; Catheterization; Cefazolin; Control Groups; Cross Infection; Equipment Contamination; Erythema; Female; Fistula; Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; Heparin; Humans; Incidence; Infections; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Prospective Studies; Renal Dialysis

We report the effectiveness of preemptive enhanced barrier precautions in containing a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak in a university hospital burn unit and further controlling endemic nosocomial MRSA infection in the unit during the succeeding 27 months.. During a 6-month period, 12 patients in a 7-bed burn unit were found to be colonized (7) or infected (5) by MRSA. An epidemiologic study was undertaken.. Seven of the 10 strains of MRSA from patients that were available for DNA typing were clonally identical. Early in the outbreak, a health care worker was found to be a concordant nasal carrier and was successfully decolonized with nasal mupirocin. However, despite stringent compliance with isolation of MRSA-positive patients (targeted precautions), new cases of MRSA colonization or infection continued to occur. The outbreak was rapidly terminated after implementing preemptive barrier precautions with all patients in the unit: a new, clean gown and gloves for any physical contact with the patient or their environment. Although 25% of all nosocomial S aureus isolates in our hospital are resistant to methicillin, the incidence of endemic MRSA colonization and infection in the burn unit has remained very low since implementing barrier precautions unit wide (baseline rate, 2.2 [95% CI: 1.0-4.2] cases per 1000 patient-days; outbreak rate, 7.2 [95% CI: 4.4-11.0] cases per 1000 patient-days; post-outbreak termination endemic rate, 1.1 (95% CI: 0.4-2.3) cases per 1000 patient-days). The rate ratio comparing the outbreak and the baseline period was 3.20 (95% CI: 1.40-7.95, P = .002); the rate ratio comparing the post-outbreak period with the baseline period was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.14-1.53, P = .10), and it has not been necessary to screen personnel for MRSA carriage to prevent nosocomial MRSA infections in this highly vulnerable population.. Preemptive barrier precautions were highly effective in controlling the outbreak and, most notably, have also been highly effective in maintaining a very low incidence of nosocomial MRSA infection endemically in the succeeding 27 months of follow-up. Use of clean gloves, with or without a gown, bears consideration for all high-risk hospitalized patients to prevent cross transmission of all multiresistant nosocomial pathogens.

Topics: Burn Units; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; Disease Outbreaks; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Genotype; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Methicillin Resistance; Molecular Epidemiology; Mupirocin; Nose; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Wisconsin

The preoperative intranasal application of mupirocin significantly decreases the rate of nosocomial S. aureus infections among patients who are S. aureus carriers. However, it remains unclear whether the routine preoperative use of mupirocin would reduce postoperative S. aureus infections, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, and who would benefit from the prophylactic use of mupirocin. Ninety-six consecutive patients who had undergone elective radical esophagectomy with right thoracotomy and laparotomy were evaluated. Fifty-one patients were given 2% mupirocin calcium ointment 3 times daily over 3 consecutive days before surgery. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors affecting the following three issues: postoperative MRSA infection, postoperative pneumonia, and the length of postoperative hospital stay. In univariate analyses, the preoperative application of mupirocin significantly reduced MRSA infection, postoperative pneumonia, and length of postoperative hospital stay. Multivariate analyses indicated significant associations between mupirocin administration and reductions in both MRSA infection and postoperative pneumonia, but not in length of postoperative hospital stay. Radical esophagectomy with right thoracotomy and laparotomy for esophageal carcinoma warranted the preoperative prophylactic administration of mupirocin in order to reduce postoperative infectious complications from MRSA. Its routine use for such a high-risk procedure is entirely reasonable.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Aged; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Cross Infection; Esophagectomy; Female; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Pneumonia; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections. Intranasal mupirocin treatment probably decreases S. aureus infections among colonized surgical patients. Using cost-effectiveness analysis, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of preoperative use of mupirocin for the prevention of healthcare-associated S. aureus infections.. Three strategies were compared: (1) screen with nasal culture and give treatment to carriers, (2) give treatment to all patients without screening, and (3) neither screen nor treat. A societal perspective was taken. Adverse outcomes included bloodstream infection, pneumonia, surgical site infection, death due to underlying illness or infection, readmission, and the need for home health care. Data inputs were obtained from an extensive MEDLINE review and from publicly available government data sources. The following base-case data inputs (and ranges) for sensitivity analysis were used: rate of S. aureus carriage, 23.1% (19%-55%); efficacy of mupirocin treatment, 51% (8%-75%); mupirocin treatment cost, 48.36 US Dollars (24.18-57.74 US Dollars); and hospital costs of bloodstream infection, 25,128 US Dollars (6,194-40,211 US Dollars), pneumonia, 18,366 US Dollars (5,574-28,952 US Dollars), and surgical site infection 16,256 US Dollars (5,119-22,553 US Dollars). Widespread use of mupirocin has been associated with high levels of mupirocin resistance; therefore, a broad range of estimates for efficacy was tested in the sensitivity analysis.. The target population included patients undergoing nonemergent surgery requiring postoperative hospitalization.. Both the screen-and-treat and treat-all strategies were cost saving, saving 102 US Dollars per patient screened and 88 US Dollars per patient treated, respectively. In 1-way sensitivity analyses, the model was robust with respect to all data inputs except for the efficacy of mupirocin treatment. If the efficacy is less than 16.1%, then the screen-and-treat strategy is cost incurring. A treat-all strategy was more cost saving if the rate of S. aureus carriage was greater than 42.7%, the mupirocin cost was less than 29.87 US Dollars, or nursing compensation was greater than 64.21 US Dollars per hour.. Administration of mupirocin before surgery is cost saving, primarily because healthcare-associated infections are very expensive. The level of mupirocin efficacy is critical to the cost-effectiveness of this intervention.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cost Savings; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross Infection; Decision Trees; Mupirocin; Nose; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

To describe, during a 6-year period, multidrug-resistant bacterial carriage in an intensive care unit (ICU).. Prospective survey of 2235 ICU patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E).. A surgical ICU in a tertiary-care teaching hospital.. All admitted patients.. Nasal and rectal swabs were performed at admission and weekly thereafter. There was nasal application of mupirocin for MRSA carriers and selective digestive decontamination with local antibiotics for ESBL-E carriers.. The swab compliance rate was 82% at admission and 51% during ICU stay. The rates of MRSA carriage or infection were 4.2 new cases per 100 admissions and 7.9 cases per 1000 patient-days during ICU stay. The rates of ESBL-E carriage or infection were 0.4 new case per 100 admissions and 3.9 cases per 1000 patient-days during ICU stay. Importation of MRSA increased significantly over time from 3.2 new cases per 100 admissions during the first 3 years to 5.5 during the last 3 years. The rate of ICU-acquired ESBLE decreased from 5.5 cases per 1000 patient-days during the first 3 years to 1.9 cases during the last 3 years. Nasal and digestive decontamination had low efficacy in eradicating carriage.. MRSA remained poorly controlled throughout the hospital and was not just a problem in the ICU. MRSA thus requires more effective measures throughout the hospital. ESBL-E was mainly an ICU pathogen and our approach resulted in a clear decrease in the rate of acquisition in the ICU over time.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; France; Humans; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units; Length of Stay; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Time Factors

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes severe morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intranasal mupirocin prophylaxis is useful to prevent ICU-acquired infections with MRSA.. We conducted a 4-year observational retrospective study in a 15-bed adult medical ICU. During the first 2-year period mupirocin ointment was included in the MRSA control programme; during the second, mupirocin was not used. The main endpoint was the number of endogenous ICU-acquired infections with MRSA.. The number of endogenous acquired infections was significantly higher during the second period than during the first (11 versus 1; P = 0.02), although there was no significant difference in the total number of patients infected with MRSA between the two periods. We also observed that nasal MRSA decolonisation was significantly higher in the mupirocin period than in mupirocin-free period (P = 0.002).. Our findings suggest that intranasal mupirocin can prevent endogenous acquired MRSA infection in an ICU. Further double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies are needed to demonstrate its cost-effectiveness and its impact on resistance.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Length of Stay; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

In a retrospective study, Dr Muller and colleagues have assessed the efficacy of mupirocin nasal ointment alongside hygienic measures in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-positive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Their findings, which suggest that intranasal mupirocin can prevent ICU-related MRSA infections, need confirmation in a well-designed clinical trial. In general: early identification, isolation and treatment of all MRSA carriers, including health care workers, and disinfection of contaminated environments, are the main 'ingredients' of an effective MRSA 'search and destroy' program.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

From 1990 to 1995 at Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, patients colonized or infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were treated with mupirocin to eliminate MRSA carriage. In 1995, 65% of MRSA patients at this hospital had mupirocin-resistant isolates. Starting in 1996, mupirocin use was restricted to patients colonized, but not infected, with MRSA.. To describe the use of mupirocin for controlling MRSA over a decade and to analyze the molecular epidemiology of mupirocin-resistant MRSA infections at this hospital.. A 490-bed, tertiary-care university hospital.. The incidence densities of patients with MRSA and acquisition of mupirocin by the hospital were calculated for the period 1992-2001. S. aureus isolates from 1999-2000 were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Mupirocin-resistant MRSA isolates from 1994-1995 and 1999-2000 were analyzed for ileS-2 gene background polymorphisms.. The incidence density of MRSA patients increased slightly over time, whereas the purchase of mupirocin decreased dramatically. Mupirocin-resistant MRSA infections decreased from 65% in 1994-1995 to 15% in 1999-2000. The MRSA Brazilian clone, detected in 1992, was still highly prevalent. The same ileS-2 encoding plasmid found in 1994-1995 persisted in three identical MRSA isolates from 1999-2000 belonging to the Brazilian clone.. After mupirocin use decreased, the ileS-2 encoding plasmid persisted in only a few Brazilian clone isolates. Our data on mupirocin-resistant MRSA incidence and mupirocin use strongly suggested that restricted use was related to decreased rates of mupirocin resistance at our hospital.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Brazil; Cross Infection; DNA, Bacterial; Hospitals, University; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Polymorphism, Genetic; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

To determine the rates of mupirocin resistance in staphylococci during a 4 year period (1999-2002) in Greece.. A total of 1200 Staphylococcus aureus and 2760 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), consecutively collected from four Greek hospitals located in different geographical areas, were tested for susceptibility to mupirocin using the Etest and a reference agar dilution method.. Twenty-four S. aureus (2%) and 532 CoNS (19.2%) were found to be mupirocin-resistant during the study period. High-level mupirocin resistance was detected in 20 S. aureus (1.6%) and in 440 CoNS (15.9%), respectively. No variations in the rates of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus in relation to the year of collection were observed. In contrast, the rate of mupirocin-resistant CoNS increased dramatically from 9% in 1999, to 14% in 2000, 20% in 2001 and reached 33% in 2002. PFGE analysis revealed the presence of one main clone (A) among mupirocin-resistant S. aureus and two main clones (i and a) among Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates.. In Greece, the rate of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus has remained low and steady since 1999. The high rate of mupirocin-resistant CoNS (33%) in 2002 was due mainly to clonal dissemination of epidemic hospital clones.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Coagulase; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Genotype; Greece; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Mupirocin; Nose; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Double-Blind Method; Female; Genotype; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose; Ointments; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Outcome

Nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is difficult to control. Due to a dramatic increase in the nosocomial MRSA infection rate at our hospital from 2000 to 2001, this study was conducted to identify the source of these infections and the effectiveness of control measures.. 179 healthcare workers (HCWs) were screened for carriage of MRSA. Starting in April 2001, all patients with MRSA infection or colonization were put in strict contact and cohort isolation. The bacterial isolates of HCW carriers and patients with MRSA infection from April 2001 to September 2001 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk-diffusion method and molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).. Fifteen HCWs were found to be carriers of MRSA. They were all given topical mupirocin treatment. After these interventions, the nosocomial MRSA infection rate decreased from 1.23 to 0.53 per 1000 patient-days. All 61 MRSA isolates available for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular typing were multidrug resistant. PFGE study revealed 2 predominant types, type C and type Y, comprising 36 and 12 isolates, respectively.. The current study demonstrates the importance of measures to control nosocomial MRSA infections in hospitals that already have a high incidence of endemic MRSA infection. Elimination of carriage by healthcare workers, and strict contact and cohort isolation are the main effective measures.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infection Control; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Taiwan

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Hospitals; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection; United States

In 2001, 7.58% of our coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients developed surgical-site infection (SSI) as compared with 3.57% in National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System hospitals from January 1992 to June 2001. Seven new preventive measures were implemented and in 2002, the rate was 3.47%. Implementing evidence-based measures improved patient outcomes.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Blood Glucose; Comorbidity; Coronary Artery Bypass; Cross Infection; Diabetes Complications; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Florida; Humans; Infection Control; Male; Mupirocin; Sentinel Surveillance; Surgical Wound Infection; Treatment Outcome

Nasal carriage is an important reservoir of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA). Mupirocin is a topical drug used to remove S. aureus from nares. However, isolates resistant to mupirocin have been reported all over the world. Silver sulphadiazine (SSD) is a topical agent, which when associated with cerium nitrate (CN), has been shown to be useful in the treatment of burn infections and could be an alternative drug for patient decolonization. Susceptibility to oxacillin in 203 S. aureus isolates was evaluated by the agar diffusion test, while the agar diffusion and agar dilution methods were used for mupirocin. A PCR-multiplex method was performed to detect the mecA and ileS-2 genes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) to SSD and CN, used alone or in association, were determined by the agar dilution method. One hundred and sixty-three (80.3%) strains were oxacillin-resistant, and 37 (18.2%) were mupirocin resistant. The MIC of SSD alone or in association with CN was 64 microg/mL, while for CN alone was 2048 microg/mL for all isolates. SSD presented anti-staphylococcal activity at concentrations (64 microg/mL) much lower than those commonly used in commercial preparations (10 mg/g) and had good activity against mupirocin-resistant strains, showing that this drug could be used for nasal decolonization in ORSA carries.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Bacterial Proteins; Brazil; Cerium; Cross Infection; DNA Primers; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Oxacillin; Penicillin-Binding Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Silver Sulfadiazine; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

To describe trends in mupirocin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus in New Zealand (NZ), following the availability of mupirocin in 1986.. Data from a variety of sources were used for this study: susceptibility data collected annually from diagnostic laboratories throughout NZ; a local survey of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus in the Auckland area in 1997; a national survey of S. aureus antimicrobial susceptibility in 1999; and the national methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) surveillance programme.. All data sources show that there was a steady increase in mupirocin resistance among S. aureus throughout the 1990s, and rates in NZ are now markedly higher than those reported in most other comparable countries. By 1999, resistance averaged 28%, with higher rates among community-acquired compared with hospital-acquired isolates, and with a wide geographical variation in resistance. Resistance was more common among S. aureus generally than MRSA.. We postulate that the steady rise in mupirocin resistance among S. aureus in NZ throughout the 1990s may be due, at least in part, to the over the counter availability of mupirocin from 1991 to 2000. The current patterns of mupirocin consumption need to be reviewed and its use rationalized to maximize the chances of this antibiotic retaining beneficial antistaphylococcal activity.

Topics: Community-Acquired Infections; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Health Surveys; Humans; Mupirocin; New Zealand; Staphylococcus aureus

Mupirocin has been used against Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, and is a specific inhibitor of bacterial isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. In this work, we have determined the prevalence of mupirocin resistance among staphylococci isolated from a Korean hospital, and have investigated the characteristics of the resistance. In Staphylococcus aureus, the prevalence of high-level mupirocin resistance was 5% (16 of 319), whereas low-level mupirocin resistance was not detected. In coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) the rates of high- and low-level mupirocin resistance were 16.7% (34 of 204) and 10.3% (21 of 204), respectively. The high-level resistant strains contained the ileS-2 gene, which encodes a novel staphylococcal isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase. In contrast, all of the low-level mupirocin-resistant CoNS contained the mutation V588F, which is located near the conserved motif KMSKS, within the chromosomal staphylococcal isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (ileS). In conclusion, this work describes the recent, but rapid, emergence of two different types of mupirocin-resistant staphylococci in Korea, and the sequence and mutant characterization of the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase of CoNS.

Topics: Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Hospitals, General; Humans; Korea; Mupirocin; Point Mutation; Staphylococcus aureus

The extent of mupirocin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in countries using mupirocin only for the eradication of nasal carriage of MRSA is unknown.. During 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, 1368 strains of MRSA were isolated from 15 general hospitals in the Tohoku area of Japan and tested for susceptibility to mupirocin.. The isolation of low-level mupirocin resistance was 0.8% in 1997, 1.1% in 1998, 0.7% in 1999, 4.0% in 2000, and 2.4% in 2001. For the first 3 years it was about 1%. However, the isolation rate of low-level mupirocin resistance in MRSA increased dramatically in 2000. High-level mupirocin resistance was not detected during these years.. Most patients from whom low-level mupirocin resistant MRSA were found in 2000 and 2001 had previously received mupirocin treatment for eradicating nasal carriage of MRSA, and these strains were isolated from sputum or the pharynx. This result indicates that mupirocin treatment is likely to be one of the causes of mupirocin resistance and, therefore, the development of low-level mupirocin resistance in MRSA isolated from sputum or the pharynx should be considered when using mupirocin in order to improve the control of the spread of MRSA in hospitals.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Hospitals, General; Humans; Japan; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Pharynx; Population Surveillance; Sputum; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Suppuration; Urine

Interpretation of the mupirocin E-test for low-level mupirocin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains has been improved by adding the indicator dye tetrazolium. E-tests were compared with agar dilution methods for assessing mupirocin susceptibility. MICs obtained by the agar dilution method and E-tests showed 89.3% agreement within 2 log(2) dilution criteria. The agreement between MICs increased to 100% in the 1 log(2) dilution definition when the indicator dye tetrazolium was added to the E-test. The use of the E-test with tetrazolium reduction is more accurate for determining mupirocin MICs for S. aureus strains.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Indicators and Reagents; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nitroblue Tetrazolium; Observer Variation; Reproducibility of Results; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Two hospital staff, women aged 20 and 22 years, were inadvertently found to be positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Both had been in a hospital outside of the Netherlands, but due to the long period of time that had elapsed since then, they did not fall under the standard protocol for MRSA screening. After the usual wash procedure with chlorhexidine and mupirocin nasal ointment treatment, they remained positive for MRSA in the throat culture. Both patients still had their pharyngeal tonsils and were suffering from throat complaints. After systemic treatment with two antibiotics, they both became MRSA-free. Throat carriership of MRSA might be a reason why MRSA eradication fails in the case of apparently healthy healthcare workers. The addition of a throat culture to the screening of healthcare workers would therefore be useful.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Carrier State; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nasopharynx; Netherlands; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Treatment Failure

An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization occurred from November 2001 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of our hospital. Since the establishment of our NICU in 1991, some MRSA has been detected in NICU patients. For MRSA infection preventive measures, utilization of the following items was implemented: mupirocin ointment, diluted povidone iodine, methylrosaniline chloride, and disposable rubber gloves. Patients in whom MRSA was detected received intranasal administration of the mupirocin ointment three times daily and were bathed in, or their entire body was wiped with diluted povidone iodine once daily for the first 3 days in each week. In addition, they received an intraoral application of methylrosaniline chloride daily. All therapy was done until MRSA strains were undetectable for 3 continuous weeks. Genotypes of 13 MRSA strains isolated from eight inpatients and one mother were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). All PFGE patterns were identical, except for one, which had one distinct migrating fragment. These data suggested that this MRSA outbreak was caused by the same strain, which was derived from the mother of a low-birth-weight infant born on October 30, 2001. Gradually, the number of inpatients carrying MRSA decreased, until finally MRSA was no longer observed, in April 2002. Fortunately, we controlled the MRSA outbreak immediately, and none of the inpatients developed severe MRSA infection. We think that in our NICU, which is isolated from other hospital wards, it is important to prevent the entrance of MRSA-carrying mothers.

Topics: Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Gentian Violet; Gloves, Protective; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Japan; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Povidone-Iodine; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Mupirocin; Nose; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Cross Infection; Humans; Mupirocin; Selection Bias; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Statistics, Nonparametric; Surgical Wound Infection

Patient-to-patient transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) has been well described. We report the first documented outbreak of probable transmission of MRSA from a mother to 3 of her preterm quadruplet infants postnatally.. Routine surveillance of clinical microbiologic laboratory reports revealed an increased incidence of MRSA infections in our NICU, including 3 of 4 preterm quadruplets. Surveillance cultures of the anterior nares of all patients and the quadruplets' parents were performed to detect MRSA carriage. The isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with the restriction endonuclease SmaI. Infection control strategies included mupirocin treatment and contact isolation precautions for infected/colonized infants.. Clinical cultures from infants A, C, and D and surveillance cultures of the quadruplets' mother and 2 additional unrelated infants grew the same clone of MRSA. The mother's only identified risk factors for MRSA acquisition were 2 prepartum hospitalizations related to the multiple gestation and previous treatment with antibiotics. All anterior nares cultures were negative for MRSA after mupirocin treatment.. Use of gowns and gloves by the family members of women with multiple gestations should be recommended to prevent transmission of potential pathogens in the NICU.

Topics: Adult; Amino Acid Sequence; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Quadruplets; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Mupirocin; Nose; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgical Wound Infection

The objective of this study was to investigate the state of mupirocin resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a community hospital in Japan. Ninety strains of MRSA were isolated from the respiratory tract of 56 patients (group I, Jun 1990-Aug 1996) before introduction of mupirocin in Japan, which were compared with 168 strains from 48 patients (group II, Sept 1996-Jan 1998) and 146 strains from 85 patients (group III, Feb 1999-Dec 1999) isolated after introduction of mupirocin. Comparisons were made by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against nine antibiotics. Fifty-five MRSA isolates from 27 patients [13 (27.1%) of 48 in group II and 14 (16.5%) of 85 in group III] after introduction of mupirocin showed low-level resistance to mupirocin (MIC, 6.25 to 50 microg/ml) but the remaining isolates were sensitive to mupirocin (MIC < or =3.13 microg/ml). Most patients colonized with low-level mupirocin-resistant MRSA were elderly (> or =65 years of age), on total parenteral nutrition or nasal feeding and had other underlying diseases. The proportion of patients colonized with low-level mupirocin-resistant MRSA following repeated use of mupirocin was higher in patients of group II than those of group III. Molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) demonstrated that the pattern of 13 MRSA isolates from 13 patients of group II consisted of three patterns (A, B, C) with predominance of pattern A, while the pattern of 13 MRSA isolates from 13 patients of group III consisted of three patterns (A, C, D) with predominance of patterns A and D. Our results indicated that resistance of MRSA to mupirocin remains at a low level at present in Japan. However, we should be aware of the possible emergence of MRSA highly resistant to mupirocin in the future.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Hospitals, Community; Humans; Japan; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Four hundred methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) from different geographical areas in Malaysia were tested for mupirocin susceptibility using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. The majority of these strains (98.75%) were susceptible to mupirocin with MICs of < or = 4 mg/l. Fifty-percent of these strains had MICs of 0.125 mg/l or less while 90% of the strains had MICs of 1 mg/l or less. Mupirocin resistance was detected in five strains (1.25%) and one of these (0.25%) had an MIC of 64 mg/l and the other four strains (1%), high-level resistance with MICs > 512 mg/l. Even though the rate of mupirocin resistance in MRSA is still low in Malaysia, its presence calls for a strict policy on mupirocin usage in Malaysian hospitals.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Staphylococcus aureus

Nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in infants has become a serious concern and a new means of preventing the transmission of MRSA in the community needs to be considered.. We performed nasal mupirocin treatment on 10 infants who were MRSA-positive either in the nose or the pharynx and evaluated the effect of mupirocin on the eradication of MRSA.. Eradication of MRSA from the nose was successful in two cases and eradication from the pharynx in six (66.6%) of nine cases. The number of treatments required to achieve eradication varied; within three courses for nose carriers and from one to seven courses for pharynx carriers. Eradication was unsuccessful even after five to seven treatments in three pharynx-limited carriers.. These data suggest that the effect of nasal mupirocin treatment on pharynx-colonized MRSA is limited and that repetitive treatment is necessary in some cases. However, in view of the possibility of preferential pharyngeal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus in infancy, nasal mupirocin treatment deserves further evaluation for eradication not only of nose- but also of pharynx-colonized MRSA.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nose; Pharyngeal Diseases; Pharynx; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Hospitals; Humans; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

To describe the clinical and molecular epidemiology of mupirocin-resistant (MR) and mupirocin-susceptible (MS) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a Veterans' Affairs hospital and to assess risk factors associated with the acquisition of MR MRSA.. All clinical MRSA isolates for the period October 1990 through March 1995 underwent susceptibility testing to mupirocin. Mupirocin resistance trends were measured, and MS MRSA and MR MRSA isolates underwent typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A retrospective case-control study was conducted to evaluate risk factors for having MR versus MS MRSA.. The James H. Quillen Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tennessee, included a 324-bed acute-care hospital, a 120-bed nursing home, and a 525-bed domiciliary. Colonizations and infections with MRSA were endemic, and mupirocin ointment was commonly used.. Inpatients and outpatients at the facility.. MS MRSA was recovered from 506 patients and MR MRSA from 126. Among MR MRSA isolates, 58% showed low-level mupirocin resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] > or = 4 to 256 microg/mL), and 42% showed high-level mupirocin resistance (MIC > or = 512 microg/mL). A significant increase (P=.002) in the number of high-level MR isolates occurred during the 1993 to 1995 period. A case-control study showed that presence of a decubitus ulcer correlated with high-level resistant isolates (P<.05). The distribution of PFGE patterns did not differ for MR and MS MRSA CONCLUSIONS: Use of mupirocin ointment in a program aimed at managing endemic MRSA infection or colonization resulted in a significant increase in the recovery of high-level MR MRSA isolates. These isolates appeared to emerge from our existing MRSA pool. A case-control study provided few clues concerning patients likely to harbor MR MRSA. We confirmed the position that the extended use of mupirocin ointment should be avoided in settings where MRSA is endemic.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; DNA, Bacterial; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Hospitals, Veterans; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

In September 1996, an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of our hospital. After failing to control the outbreak by conventional methods we implemented an intranasal blanket use programme of mupirocin ointment from the beginning of November 1997. In the programme, patients who had been carrying MRSA received intranasal administration of the ointment three times daily for the first three days and consecutively three times weekly, while newly admitted patients and those who had not been colonized were prophylactically medicated three times weekly. This blanket administration was executed for one month. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization became undetectable in all but one intubated inpatient who had already been colonized before the start of the programme, and no new acquisitions occurred until the middle of January 1998, seven weeks after the termination of the blanket use programme. The rate of colonized patients in the unit also decreased. During and after the programme, neither an increase in minimum inhibitory concentration for the antibiotic nor apparent adverse reactions in any of the treated patients were observed. We concluded that this procedure is an effective method of controlling an MRSA outbreak in an NICU when the outbreak cannot be managed with conventional measures.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Bacterial; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Ointments; Program Evaluation; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Time Factors; Tokyo

Routine use of mupirocin to prevent staphylococcal infections is controversial. We assessed attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals attending the Fourth Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections regarding mupirocin prophylaxis. Eighty percent of participants did not use mupirocin routinely. At the end of the session, 58% indicated they would consider increased use of mupirocin.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cross Infection; Humans; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Mupirocin is a topical antimicrobial agent that has been successfully used to eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from the anterior nares and other sites of patients and health care personnel. This report describes the acquisition of a novel mupirocin resistance gene (ileS) by an epidemic MRSA clone that is geographically widespread in Brazil.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brazil; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Physical Chromosome Mapping; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

An outbreak of mupirocin-resistant (MuR) staphylococci was investigated in two wards of a large hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Fifty-three MuR isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. xylosus, and S. capitis were identified over a 17-month survey which was carried out after introduction of the drug for the treatment of skin infections. The isolates were collected from patients with infections, environmental samples, and carriers; they constituted 19.5% of all staphylococcal isolates identified in the two wards during that time. Almost all the MuR isolates were also resistant to methicillin (methicillin-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci). Seven of the outbreak isolates expressed a low-level-resistance phenotype (MuL), whereas the remaining majority of isolates were found to be highly resistant to mupirocin (MuH). The mupA gene, responsible for the MuH phenotype, has been assigned to three different polymorphic loci among the strains in the collection analyzed. The predominant polymorph, polymorph I (characterized by a mupA-containing EcoRI DNA fragment of about 16 kb), was located on a specific plasmid which was widely distributed among the entire staphylococcal population. All MuR S. aureus isolates were found to represent a single epidemic strain, which was clonally disseminated in both wards. The S. epidermidis population was much more diverse; however, at least four clusters of closely related isolates were identified, which suggested that some strains of this species were also clonally spread in the hospital environment. Six isolates of S. epidermidis were demonstrated to express the MuL and MuH resistance mechanisms simultaneously, and this is the first identification of such dual MuR phenotype-bearing strains. The outbreak was attributed to a high level and inappropriate use of mupirocin, and as a result the dermatological formulation of the drug has been removed from the hospital formulary.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chromosome Mapping; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Plasmids; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus

Patients who are infected or colonised by MRSA should be isolated. However, isolation is very costly in terms of time and work. In order to shorten the period of isolation, attempts are being made to eradicate this organism from patients by means of whole-body washing in addition to nasal mupirocin treatment. The effectiveness of such washes has not yet been adequately confirmed by studies. From September 1997 to August 1998, therefore, in a clinical trial of MRSA eradication, 28 patients were washed for a period of five days with a 1:1 diluted preparation based on octenidine dihydrochloride. At the same time, the nose was treated with mupirocin. Before washing was begun, on day 4 during washing and on days 1, 4 and 7 after washing was completed, smears were taken from each patient from the nose, pharynx, forehead hairline, groin, axilla and wounds, and in the case of women from the sub-mammary area. Elimination of the MRSA was achieved in 21 out of 28 cases; in four cases the washing was discontinued on account of skin redness, in three cases no elimination could be achieved during the control period. In order to ensure the success of eradication and to minimise skin reactions due to the washing, the wash procedure must be standardised, and decontamination controlled microbiologically. The study confirms that MRSA can be eradicated by means of washing with an antiseptic combined with mupirocin treatment.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Baths; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Decontamination; Female; Humans; Imines; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Ointments; Pyridines; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

An epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphlococcus aureus (EMRSA-3) appeared in a District hospital in June 1989 as part of a regional outbreak. The dynamics of the outbreak were complex and involved patient transfer between hospitals and wards. Control measures followed UK guidelines and included the use of nasal mupirocin. During these efforts a mupirocin-resistant MRSA [MuMRSA: mupirocin minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) > 256 mg/L] emerged, probably in a patient who had been given eight mupirocin courses over nine months. The MuMRSA had a narrower phage-typing pattern than EMRSA-3, but was indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of SmaI chromosomal restriction enzyme digests and its susceptibility pattern to other antibiotics. The results of in vitro curing and gene probing indicated that mupirocin resistance was encoded on a 48 Md plasmid. MuMRSA spread occurred in 12 patients and 11 staff. The affected patients were nursed on the same ward. The strain was eradicated from patients with oral ciprofloxacin and rifampicin, triclosan skin treatment and nasal fusidic acid and bacitracin cream. The control of the outbreak had significant medical, social and financial implications. Fortunately, there were alternative topical agents to mupirocin, an agent which has played such a key role in MRSA eradication in recent years.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteriophage Typing; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; London; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brazil; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Infection Control; Intermediate Care Facilities; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

In December 1992, a thoracic ward in a Melbourne teaching hospital experienced an increase in patients infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It was decided to attempt to control the outbreak by cohorting positive patients (infected and colonized), as well as nurse cohorting, emphasis on handwashing, and use of intranasal mupirocin initially three times a day for three days, then thrice weekly, for all patients in the ward (with or without MRSA). The campaign comprised for phases of 53, 45, 92 and 365 days, respectively. Patient and nurse cohorting stopped at the end of phase I. In phases I and II, surveillance nose swabs were taken on admission, then twice weekly; in phase III, on admission and weekly and in phase IV, on admission until the end of 1993. In phases I and II (98 days), only one patient acquired MRSA. When the frequency of mupirocin prophylaxis was decreased to once weekly (phase III), two patients acquired MRSA in 92 days (no significant difference): thrice weekly administration resumed (phase IV), during which there were three acquisitions in 365 days. The rates of nose colonization of admissions were 6.4%, 6.3%, 9.7% and 3.1% in phase I-IV, respectively. Only three patients were treated with vancomycin between July 1993 and June 1994 (significantly lower than historical rates, P = 0.0086). No mupirocin resistance was seen in MRSA isolates from this ward during phases I, II and III. In areas of low-level endemic MRSA, the blanket use of thrice-weekly intranasal mupirocin may be effective in decreasing serious infections with MRSA, and does not necessarily elicit mupirocin resistance.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Incidence; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Program Evaluation; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Respiratory Tract Infections; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

To describe the epidemiology and the interventions used to control two methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) epidemics involving 46 infants with two fatalities in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).. A 50-bed, level III NICU in a university hospital.. After traditional interventions failed to stop the first epidemic, an intensive microbiologic surveillance (IMS) program was developed. Cultures were obtained on all infants each week, and those colonized with MRSA were isolated. When an infant was found to be colonized with MRSA, cultures immediately were obtained on all surrounding infants. This was continued until no MRSA-colonized infants were found in the area. During the first epidemic, mupirocin was used in an attempt to eradicate the organism from the unit.. All infants, colonized and noncolonized, and parents of and personnel working with colonized infants were treated simultaneously with 5 days of mupirocin. This failed to eradicate MRSA in colonized infants. The spread of MRSA ceased in the unit, but a second epidemic occurred 4 months later. This time, IMS alone was successful in quickly containing the epidemic, and MRSA disappeared from the unit after all colonized infants were discharged. Plasmid analysis demonstrated that the same strain was responsible for both outbreaks.. IMS and isolation are effective in containing the spread of MRSA in an NICU. The use of mupirocin failed to eradicate the organism.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infection Control; Intensive Care, Neonatal; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Ohio; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Surveillance for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was implemented in Rio de Janeiro and Uberlândia University Hospitals, which had different policies on use of mupirocin. One hundred fourteen multiresistant MRSA strains were isolated from 62 patients. Mupirocin resistance was observed in 63% of strains in Rio de Janeiro, where there was extensive use of topical mupirocin, and 6.1% in Uberlândia, where its use was rare.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brazil; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Hospitals, University; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

All methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from colonized or infected patients in a 625-bed public teaching hospital during an epidemic, and for 3 years thereafter, underwent susceptibility testing to mupirocin. Mupirocin resistance among MRSA increased markedly over this period (1990, 2.7%; 1991, 8.0%; 1992, 61.5%; 1993, 65%) in association with increased use of mupirocin ointment as an adjunct to infection control measures.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Several countries have achieved considerable success in the control of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, in several hospitals in the UK, MRSA strains of enhanced epidemicity, notably EMRSA-16, are becoming endemic. Our inability to eliminate the cause of a single-strain outbreak is unfamiliar and unnerving. Factors in 'market-led' health care delivery that hinder control of MRSA include a shortage of inpatient beds, patients moving from ward to ward, and more mixed-specialty wards. Increasing use of day treatments leaves an inpatient hospital population with more risk factors for infection. Early discharge of infected patients to convalescent homes, or to homes for the elderly, has created a new reservoir of infected and colonized patients. The emergence of high-level mupirocin resistance may soon also contribute to failure of control. The transfer of vancomycin resistance from Enterococcus faecium to a laboratory strain of S. aureus suggests that, especially in hospitals with both vancomycin-resistant enterococci and MRSA, there is the opportunity for the emergence of vancomycin-resistant MRSA for which there may be no effective antimicrobial prophylaxis or treatment. It is increasingly important to persuade hospital managers that even partial control of MRSA, whilst expensive, is still cost-effective and is a quality issue for individual hospitals. The control of EMRSA-16 in one hospital has recently been estimated to have saved more than 629,000 pounds extra costs. MRSA continues to be at the forefront of those organisms that seriously challenge modern technological medicine and surgery.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disease Reservoirs; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Hospital Costs; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Vancomycin

A six month prospective study was carried out in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of a university hospital to assess the incidence and routes of exogenous colonization by Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 157 patients were included in the study. One thousand one hundred and eleven specimens (nasal, surgical wound swabs, tracheal secretions obtained on admission and once a week thereafter, and all clinical specimens) were collected over a four month period from patients without nasal decontamination (A). They were compared with 729 specimens collected over a two month period from patients treated with nasal mupirocin ointment (B). All S. aureus strains were typed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pulsed-field gel electrophoresis after SmaI macrorestriction. The nasal colonization rates on admission were 25.5 and 32.7% in groups A and B, respectively. Thirty-one untreated patients (31.3%) and three patients (5.1%) treated with nasal ointment, acquired the nasal S. aureus in the SICU (P = 0.00027). Nasal carriers were more frequently colonized in the bronchopulmonary tract (Bp) and surgical wound (Sw) (62%) than patients who were not nasal carriers (14%) (P < 0.00001). The patterns were identical for nasal, Bp and Sw strains from the same patient. RFLP analysis characterized seven epidemic strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) which colonized 60% of group A and 9% of group B patients (P < 0.00001). The bronchopulmonary tract infection rate was reduced in group B (P = 0.032). In conclusion, in an SICU, nasal carriage of S. aureus appeared to be the source of endogenous and cross-colonization. The use of nasal mupirocin ointment reduced the incidence of Bp and Sw colonization, as well as the MRSA infection rate.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Carrier State; Colony Count, Microbial; Cross Infection; Hospitals, University; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nasal Mucosa; Ointments; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Twenty-two isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, recovered from patients over a period of about one year, exhibited low level resistance to mupirocin, developed a salmon pink colour on culture and 21 had the same phage-type. However the plasmid profiles and associated antibiotic resistances differed. Digestion of cellular DNA with SmaI showed that two isolates from a single patient had a markedly different pattern to the remainder, and that six others differed by one band, though these formed groups of one and five isolates. This episode apparently represents a small outbreak of colonization or infection, which would have been missed but for the unusual pigmentation of the isolates recovered, and illustrates the difficulties of relying on a single typing system.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteriophage Typing; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; DNA, Bacterial; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Female; Humans; Infection Control; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Pigmentation; R Factors; Restriction Mapping; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

In a 3,000-bed tertiary care hospital, 88 cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia were identified from 22,383 blood cultures (0.39%) submitted to the microbiology laboratory over a one-year period. Two high-risk areas were identified: the paediatric oncology unit, in which 12 cases of MRSA bacteraemia were identified from 924 blood cultures (1.3%), and the intensive care unit (ICU), in which 14 cases of MRSA bacteraemia were identified from 1,391 blood cultures (1.0%). In a one-year targeted intervention programme in which staff and patients were screened for MRSA carriage, patient carriers isolated, and mupirocin and chlorhexidine treatment administered, the number of MRSA bacteraemia cases decreased in these areas to 0 and 4, respectively (p = 0.000123 and 0.016), while the incidence of MRSA bacteraemia in non-targeted areas increased from 62 of 20,068 blood cultures (0.3%) to 82 of 18,784 blood cultures (0.44%) (p = 0.047). In the year post intervention the incidence of MRSA bacteraemia increased to 3 of 815 cultures (0.37%) in the paediatric oncology unit, 10 of 1,934 cultures (0.5%) in the ICU, and 112 of 18,977 cultures (0.59%) in the rest of the hospital (p = 0.00004 versus preintervention period). This study demonstrates the efficacy of targeted MRSA control measures in a hospital in which MRSA is endemic.

Topics: Adult; Bacteremia; Carrier State; Child; Child, Preschool; Chlorhexidine; Cross Infection; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Intensive Care Units; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Oncology Service, Hospital; Pediatrics; Staphylococcus aureus

To investigate a cluster of mupirocin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on a dermatology ward.. An outbreak of mupirocin-resistant S aureus was noted on the dermatology ward during a prospective epidemiologic study of methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) and borderline methicillin-susceptible S aureus (BMSSA). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of whole-cell DNA digested with Sma I was used as a marker of strain identity.. An 850-bed university hospital with a 12-bed inpatient dermatology ward. Most patients have severe, exfoliating dermatologic disorders.. MRSA or BMSSA were isolated from 13 patients on the dermatology ward over a 14-month period. Eleven of these isolates (84.6%) were mupirocin-resistant. Nine isolates were present on admission (81.8%); 8 of these patients had been hospitalized on the same ward within the last two months. Nasal and hand cultures from 36 personnel were negative for mupirocin-resistant MRSA or BMSSA. Extensive environmental culturing revealed that a blood pressure cuff and the patients' communal shower were positive for mupirocin-resistant BMSSA. PFGE of all mupirocin-resistant isolates demonstrated that the nine patients and both environmental sources had identical DNA typing patterns.. Changing of blood pressure cuffs between patients and more stringent cleaning of communal areas was initiated. Repeat environmental cultures were negative.. S aureus is not usually associated with an environmental reservoir; however, these patients all had severe desquamation, which may have prolonged environmental contamination.

Topics: Blood Pressure Determination; Connecticut; Cross Infection; Dermatology; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Equipment Contamination; Hospital Units; Hospitals, University; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Cross Infection; Humans; Infection Control; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections

Topics: Carrier State; Coagulase; Cross Infection; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Vancomycin

The evaluation of health care workers role in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreaks and the efficacy of mupirocin as a topical agent for nasal carriers.. Microbiologic study of nasal microflora of 1547 health care workers from the San Carlos University Hospital and 108 health care workers from related hospitals while an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infections is in progress at San Carlos University Hospital. Assessment of the efficacy of mupirocin nasal ointment for nasal carriers using microbiologic controls of nasal and pharyngeal swabs at the end of treatment and two weeks after.. In San Carlos University Hospital a total of 53 health care workers with nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were found. That figure represents a 3.4% of all health care workers studied and also a 15.4% of methicillin-resistance among all S. aureus isolated. Among health care workers from related hospitals, only one nasal carrier was found. Forty-seven of all 53 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from San Carlos University Hospital health care workers and the strain isolated from the related hospitals health care worker were similar to the epidemic strain responsible for the outbreak. Mupirocin, as nasal ointment, was useful in eliminating nasal colonization in all cases.. When a nosocomial outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections is detected, health care workers are one of the most important reservoirs. Topical treatment with mupirocin (nasal ointment) is useful for eliminating the nasal carrier status.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Hospitals, University; Methicillin; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Ointments; Personnel, Hospital; Spain; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococci are still a leading cause of hospital infection. The success of nasal mupirocin for the control of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA), the prevention of colonization of central venous cannulae, and the prevention of septicaemia in haemodialysis patients should encourage the use of minimal dose regimens to minimize the emergence of mupirocin resistance. Mupirocin applied to the anterior nares 4-times daily usually eliminates S. aureus, including EMRSA, within 48 h. Elimination is sustained for several weeks in patients and staff. We recently found that a single dose, or a regimen of 4-times daily for 2 days, eliminated nasal carriage of S. aureus within 24 h; 7 days after a single dose, 92% of the subjects were still cleared; 7 days after the 2-day course, 96% remained free of nasal S. aureus. Ward personnel who are nasal carriers of EMRSA can, provided that other carriage sites are negative, return to work after 2 days of a 4-times daily intranasal regimen. The UK guidelines, recently published in this Journal, recommend an aggressive approach to identifying and eliminating EMRSA, including the elimination of nasal carriage. This approach is increasingly associated with the control of EMRSA in the UK and elsewhere.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Methicillin Resistance; Mupirocin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for the development of infections caused by S. aureus in haemodialysis patients. This study compared the incidence of bacteraemia caused by S. aureus during 6 months of use of nasal 2% calcium mupirocin ('Nasal Bactroban') 3-times a week for nasal carriers with the incidence observed previously in the same dialysis unit without the use of mupirocin. Nasal mupirocin led to the total eradication of nasal carriage of S. aureus, a 4.26-fold reduction in the incidence of S. aureus bacteraemia, and a substantial cost saving. After a cumulative experience of nasal mupirocin in haemodialysis patients of more than 43 patient-years, the development of mupirocin resistance was not observed.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Bacteremia; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross Infection; Humans; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Prospective Studies; Renal Dialysis; Staphylococcal Infections

In an open, non-comparative clinical study conducted at 102 hospitals in the UK and Ireland, 1,510 subjects were treated with 2% calcium mupirocin in a white soft paraffin/Softisan 649 base (Bactroban 'Nasal') during hospital outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In most subjects treatment was applied two or three times daily to both anterior nares for three to eight days. Of the 766 assessable subjects, nasal carriage of S aureus was cleared in 744 (97.1%). Initially, MRSA was present in 628 cases (79.4%), and the organism was eliminated in 609 of these (97.0%). Isolates of S aureus were tested for susceptibility to a variety of antibiotics by disc test: of 523 nasal isolates tested against mupirocin, 516 (98.7%) were sensitive. Treatment was very well tolerated. Adverse events were reported by 22 subjects (1.5%); these were mostly mild local effects and necessitated withdrawal of treatment only in three subjects. The results indicate that topical calcium mupirocin is a highly effective and well tolerated treatment for the eradications of nasal carriage of S aureus, including MRSA.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carrier State; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross Infection; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Methicillin Resistance; Middle Aged; Mupirocin; Nose Diseases; Staphylococcal Infections

In an attempt to control the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within a spinal cord injury unit, we investigated the mode of transmission and implemented a multidisciplinary approach for control that consisted of grouping of patients into cohorts, contact isolation, and antibiotics. Surveillance cultures of patients and nose and hand cultures of medical personnel were performed. Of 11 colonized patients, 6 had MRSA isolates that shared a similar plasmid profile and antibiogram, raising the possibility of interpatient spread of the organism. Medical personnel had no evident role in transmitting MRSA. All patients' pretherapy MRSA isolates were susceptible to minocycline and, except for one, to rifampin. Time-kill studies showed an indifferent interaction of these two antibiotics. Ten colonized patients received a 2-week oral course of 100 mg of minocycline twice daily and 600 mg of rifampin once daily, while the 11th patient was treated for only 1 week. Patients with colonization of the nares also had twice daily nasal application of 2% mupirocin for 5 days. Colonization with MRSA cleared in 10 of 11 patients (91%) and 20 of 21 sites (95%). When the individual circumstances of a medical facility justify eradication of MRSA colonization, a multidisciplinary approach that includes antibiotic therapy with oral minocycline and rifampin, along with topical mupirocin for those with nasal carriage, may be successful.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Infection Control; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Minocycline; Mupirocin; Plasmids; Rifampin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurred in two adjacent orthopaedic wards following the admission of a known carrier. The outbreak was not contained by ward closure or by standard infection control measures. Eventually several nasal carriers were identified and treated with nasal mupirocin, following which the outbreak ended.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disinfection; England; Fatty Acids; Female; Hospital Units; Humans; Male; Methicillin; Mupirocin; Orthopedics; Penicillin Resistance; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

The spread of two strains of Staphylococcus aureus with high level resistance to mupirocin is described. The resistance proved to be easily transferred to other S. aureus strains by filter mating experiments and on the skin of mice. No plasmid band corresponding to the resistance could be demonstrated by agarose gel electrophoresis or by caesium chloride gradient centrifugation but cleavage of 'chromosomal' DNA from resistant recipients showed bright bands of DNA absent from sensitive controls.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Dermatology; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Fatty Acids; Hospital Departments; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

2% mupirocin ointment applied intra-nasally for 5 days was assessed for elimination of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in 31 staff members in a children's hospital. Three volunteers failed to complete the trial because of side effects, i.e. buccal reddening and swelling, and unpleasant taste. During treatment staphylococcal nasal carriage was not found in any case; of the 24 post-treatment nasal swabs taken 4 days after treatment 22 were still negative. Re-colonization with S. aureus of different phage types occurred in the remaining two cases.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Child; Cross Infection; Fatty Acids; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Mupirocin; Nose; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

An outbreak with a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus began in The London Hospital in 1982 and continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This particular strain, termed epidemic methicillin-resistant S. aureus, is recognized by its characteristic antibiogram, phage-type and plasmid profile. In this outbreak various means of control have been attempted. Sideroom isolation did not curtail spread of the organism and containment was only achieved with the combination of extended screening, mupirocin for treatment of carriage and the use of an isolation ward.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carrier State; Cross Infection; Fatty Acids; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; London; Methicillin; Mupirocin; Patient Isolation; Penicillin Resistance; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

During a hospital outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), involving more than 200 patients, 40 patients and 32 hospital staff who were stable nasal carriers of MRSA received topical application of 2% mupirocin, formulated in a white soft paraffin and lanolin ointment, to their anterior nares for five days. Nasal carriage was eliminated in all patients and staff, usually within the first 48 h of treatment. Of the 40 patients, 36 remained clear of nasal MRSA for the duration of their follow-up (mean = 2 weeks) and four became re-colonized one to five weeks after their course. Immediately after the course, the number of patients with MRSA isolated from wounds and wrists fell from 16 to 7, and from 16 to 3, respectively. Of the 32 staff, all were negative one week after the course, and of the 22 still available for follow-up at eight weeks, all were consistently negative (mean period of follow-up = 7.8, range = 1-20 weeks). Four patients and five staff were re-colonized with MRSA between one to five, and two to twelve weeks, respectively, after treatment. Overall, in the post-treatment follow-up, 98.6% of the staff-weeks and 90.1% of the patient-weeks were free of nasal MRSA. MICs of mupirocin for both pre and post treatment isolates were all 0.03 or 0.06 mg/l. The elimination of nasal MRSA by mupirocin, and the introduction of isolation facilities, were associated with the control of the outbreak.

Topics: Adult; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Fatty Acids; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Methicillin; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

This report deals with the problems associated with a high incidence rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in low birth weight infants in a regional special care baby unit. Strict isolation facilities were not used and the outbreak was promptly brought under control by the use of intensive traditional methods of infection control and the use of topical mupirocin in a paraffin base.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Fatty Acids; Humans; Infant; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Methicillin; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mupirocin; Ointments; Penicillin Resistance; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cross Infection; Disease Reservoirs; Fatty Acids; Humans; Methicillin; Mupirocin; Patient Isolation; Penicillin Resistance; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Transportation of Patients

Topics: Carrier State; Cross Infection; Disease Outbreaks; Fatty Acids; Humans; Methicillin; Mupirocin; Nasal Cavity; Penicillin Resistance; Perineum; Personnel, Hospital; Skin; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus