6 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 1 9
Fears of an increase in
mupirocin-resistant MRSA have
called into question the antibi-
otic's effectiveness as a nasal
decolonization technique for
combatting SSIs. But a recent
study suggests the alternative
alcohol-based antiseptic
method requires further
research before it becomes the
go-to approach
(osmag.net/wCk9RB).
"Because we use alcohol for hand hygiene and have not seen
resistance develop to it, why not use the same thing for nasal
decolonization? It's a fantastic idea," says Anubhav Kanwar, MD,
one of the study's authors and leader of the Infectious Diseases,
Tropical Medicine and Traveler's Health Clinic at Tri-State
Memorial Hospital in Clarkston, Wash.
Dr. Kanwar and his team of researchers evaluated the effective-
ness of a one-time application of an alcohol-based nasal antisep-
tic in MRSA-colonized patients, who received either a single dose
or the manufacturer-recommended triple dose over 3 minutes.
Researchers swabbed the anterior nares and vestibule prior to
application, and then again 10 minutes, 2 hours, and 6 hours after
application to test MRSA levels. They found that both the single
and triple dose applications reduced MRSA concentrations at 10
minutes and 2 hours, with the triple dose statistically significant.
But at 6 hours after both single and triple doses were applied, the
Don't Do Away With Mupirocin Just Yet
CLINICAL TRIAL
• NO ONE NOSE Head-to-head comparisons of all nasal
decolonization methods will help identify the best option.
