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Prevalence and mechanisms of low- and high-level mupirocin resistance in staphylococci isolated from a Korean hospital.

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.

Cross Infection↗

Reduction in gram-positive pneumonia and antibiotic consumption following the use of a SDD protocol including nasal and oral mupirocin.

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, with the addition of mupirocin to the oral paste and in the anterior nares, is associated with a reduction in lung infections caused by gram-positives and in a reduction in antibiotic consumption and in the overall expenditure for antibiotics.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Characterization of a conjugative staphylococcal mupirocin resistance plasmid.

We studied conjugative plasmids encoding high-level mupirocin resistance. These plasmids were found in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from two geographic locations in the United States. Transfer genes on three mupirocin resistance plasmids with different restriction endonuclease profiles were indistinguishable by DNA hybridization from those on pG01, a conjugative aminoglycoside resistance plasmid representative of similar plasmids that are prevalent in the United States. One mupirocin resistance plasmid, pG0400 (34 kb), was smaller than pG01 (52 kb) because of the absence from pG0400 of DNA, found on pG01, that contained genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides, trimethoprim, and quaternary ammonium compounds flanked by directly repeated copies of the insertion sequence (IS)-like element IS431-IS257. The plasmids pG0400 and pG01 were otherwise indistinguishable except for the presence in pG0400 of a 4.5-kb HinDIII fragment encoding mupirocin resistance. The added mupirocin resistance gene was flanked by two directly repeated copies of IS431/257. The nucleotide sequence of DNA contiguous to the outside of the IS elements, as well as those of the elements themselves, was identical in both pG01 and pG0400, and there were no target site duplications flanking either copy of the element. We conclude that the mupirocin resistance gene was added to an existing conjugative plasmid in conjunction with the deletion of other resistance genes by recombination at IS elements. The construction of conjugative plasmids carrying a mupirocin resistance gene may be a model for the mobility of other resistance genes newly acquired by staphylococci.

Base Sequence↗

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to evaluate the efficacy of mupirocin for eradicating carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Mupirocin has been widely used for the clearance of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage during outbreaks, but no placebo-controlled trial has evaluated its value for eradicating MRSA carriage at multiple body sites in settings where MRSA is not epidemic. In a 1,500-bed teaching hospital with endemic MRSA, 102 patients colonized with MRSA were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and treated with either mupirocin (group M) or placebo (group P) applied to the anterior nares for 5 days; both groups used chlorhexidine soap for body washing. Follow-up screening, susceptibility testing, and genotyping were performed to evaluate treatment success, mupirocin or chlorhexidine resistance, and exogenous recolonization. At baseline, MRSA carriage was 60% in the nares, 38% in the groin, and 62% in other sites (skin lesions, urine). The MRSA eradication rate (all body sites) was 25% in group M (12 of 48 patients), compared to 18% in group P (9 of 50 patients; relative risk [RR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 0.33 to 1.55). At the end of follow-up, 44% of patients (19 of 43) were free of nasal MRSA in group M, compared to 23% (11 of 44) in group P (RR, 0.57; CI95, 0.31 to 1.04). Ten patients developed MRSA infections (three in group M and seven in group P). One mupirocin treatment failure was due to exogenous MRSA recolonization. No MRSA isolate showed chlorhexidine resistance or high-level mupirocin resistance; however, we observed an association (P = 0.003) between low-level mupirocin resistance at study entry (prevalence, 23%) and subsequent treatment failure in both study arms. These results suggest that nasal mupirocin is only marginally effective in the eradication of multisite MRSA carriage in a setting where MRSA is endemic.

Adult↗

Mupirocin prophylaxis against methicillin-susceptible, methicillin-resistant, or vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus epidermidis vascular-graft infection.

A rat model was used to investigate the efficacy of mupirocin in the prevention of vascular prosthetic graft infection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis strains with different susceptibility patterns (methicillin susceptible, methicillin resistant, and with intermediate resistance to vancomycin). The effect of mupirocin-soaked Dacron was compared to that of perioperative intraperitoneal prophylaxis with vancomycin. Graft infections were established in the back subcutaneous tissue of adult male Wistar rats by implantation of Dacron prostheses (1 cm(2)) followed by topical inoculation with 5 x 10(7) CFU of one staphylococcal strain. The study included a control group (no graft contamination), three contaminated groups that did not receive any antibiotic prophylaxis, three contaminated groups that received mupirocin-soaked grafts, three contaminated groups in which perioperative intraperitoneal vancomycin prophylaxis (10 mg/kg of body weight) was administered, and three contaminated groups that received mupirocin-soaked grafts and perioperative intraperitoneal vancomycin prophylaxis (10 mg/kg). The grafts were sterilely removed 7 days after implantation, and the infection was evaluated by using sonication and quantitative agar culture. Data analysis showed the efficacy of mupirocin against all three strains, with growth of the strains in treated rats significantly different than that in the untreated control. In addition, mupirocin was more effective than vancomycin against the strain with intermediate susceptibility to the glycopeptide. Finally, the combination of mupirocin and vancomycin produced complete suppression of the growth of all of the strains.

Aminoglycosides↗

Effects of mupirocin at subinhibitory concentrations on biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin can suppress flagellar formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, we evaluated the effect of mupirocin on biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. METHODS: P. aeruginosa PAO-1 (MIC, >1,024 microg/ml for mupirocin) was used. Viable bacteria adhering or forming biofilm on a Cell Desk were counted and observed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: With or without continuous exposure to 256 microg/ml of mupirocin, counts of adherent and/or biofilm-forming bacteria showed no difference until day 10. Whereas biofilm formation with glycocalyx was observed on day 6-10 without mupirocin, mupirocin reduced biofilm formation and glycocalyx production for 10 days. CONCLUSIONS: Subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin can reduce biofilm formation in vitro in P. aeruginosa.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Topical mupirocin in the treatment of bacterial skin infections.

Mupirocin is an investigational topical antibiotic used for treatment and prophylaxis of bacterial skin infections. Mupirocin differs from other antibiotics in its synthesis, structure, and mechanism of action. In vitro, mupirocin possesses antimicrobial activity against staphylococci, streptococci, Hemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Few studies comparing mupirocin to other topical antibiotics are available. Initial studies comparing mupirocin to inactive vehicle in the treatment of impetigo indicate an overall 92 percent pathogen eradication rate with active drug and 58 percent eradication rate with vehicle. Overall response to treatment of secondary skin infections was favorable in 91 percent of patients treated with mupirocin and 77 percent of those treated with vehicle. Although incidence is not greater than placebo, adverse effects have included pruritus, burning, dry skin, and erythema. Additional trials and clinical use should further help determine the role of mupirocin in the treatment of minor, primary, and secondary skin infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The preventive effects of mupirocin against nasotracheal intubation-related bacterial carriage.

UNLABELLED: Nasotracheal intubation is often required during dental and maxillofacial surgery. The complications of nasotracheal intubation are well documented, but there have been few systematic attempts to find methods for their prevention. We examined intubation-related carriage of bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), into the trachea and evaluated the effects of topical nasal treatment with mupirocin on intubation-related bacterial colonization. Of 38 patients without mupirocin treatment (nontreatment group), 27 (71.1%) showed general bacterial colonization in the nasal cavities before intubation. MRSA was isolated from 13.2% of the patients in this group. However, 10 of 22 patients (45%) treated with mupirocin (treatment group) showed colonization by general bacteria, and 2 (9%) were MRSA carriers before intubation. After nasal intubation, general bacteria and MRSA were isolated from the endotracheal tube tip in 66.2% and 16.7% of these patients in the nontreatment group, respectively. In contrast, general bacteria were isolated from the endotracheal tube tip in 19.2% of these patients after oral intubation, but no MRSA was detected. However, after nasal intubation, general bacteria were isolated from the endotracheal tube tip in 3 of the patients in the treatment group (23.1%), and no MRSA was detected, whereas no bacteria were isolated from oral intubation tubes. These results indicate that bacteria were carried into the trachea at a more frequent rate by nasal intubation as compared with oral intubation, and nasal treatment with mupirocin eliminated the nasal carriage of S. aureus. Topical nasal treatment with mupirocin before nasal intubation is thus suggested to be effective for preventing carriage of bacteria into the trachea. IMPLICATIONS: We studied the carriage rate of bacteria into the trachea caused by nasal intubation. The bacterial carriage by nasal intubation was more frequent than that by oral intubation, and intranasal administration of mupirocin eliminated the carriage of S. aureus. These results indicate that topical nasal treatment with mupirocin is effective to prevent carriage of bacteria into the trachea.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Molecular analysis of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase mutations in clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with low-level mupirocin resistance.

Emergence and spread of low-level mupirocin resistance in staphylococci have been increasingly reported in recent years. The aim of this study was to characterize missense mutations within the chromosomal isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (ileS) among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with low-level mupirocin resistance. A total of 20 isolates of MRSA with low-level mupirocin resistance (minimal inhibitory concentration, 16-64 microg/mL) were collected from 79 patients in intensive care units for six months. The isolates were analyzed for isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleS) mutations that might affect the binding of mupirocin to the three-dimensional structure of the S. aureus IleS enzyme. All isolates with low-level mupirocin resistance contained the known V588F mutation affecting the Rossman fold, and some of them additionally had previously unidentified mutations such as P187F, K226T, F227L, Q612H, or V767D. Interestingly, Q612H was a novel mutation that was involved in stabilizing the conformation of the catalytic loop containing the KMSKS motif. In conclusion, this study confirms that molecular heterogeneity in ileS gene is common among clinical MRSA isolates with low-level mupirocin resistance, and further study on clinical mutants is needed to understand the structural basis of low-level mupirocin resistance.

Drug Resistance, Bacterial↗

Elimination of coincident Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriage with intranasal application of mupirocin calcium ointment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of mupirocin calcium ointment in the elimination of Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriage in healthy persons. DESIGN: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. SETTING: Clinical research unit of a tertiary medical center. SUBJECTS: Health care workers with stable S. aureus nasal carriage. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects (n = 68) were randomly assigned to receive either mupirocin or placebo intranasally twice daily for 5 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Cultures of the hands and nares were obtained at baseline and 72 hours after therapy. The nares were also cultured 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after therapy. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA were used to confirm strain identity. There were no serious side effects. Mupirocin decreased the frequency of S. aureus nasal carriage at each time interval: At 3 months, 71% of subjects receiving mupirocin remained free of nasal S. aureus compared with 18% of controls. This difference (53%; 95% CI; 26% to 80%) was significant (P less than 0.0001). Additionally, analysis of plasmid patterns showed that 79% of subjects in the mupirocin group were free of the initial colonizing strain at 3 months. The proportion of hand cultures positive for S. aureus in the mupirocin group after therapy was lower than in the placebo group (2.9% compared with 57.6%). This difference (53%; 95 CI, 30% to 80%) was significant, after adjustment for the frequency of hand carriage at baseline (P less than 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: When applied intranasally for 5 days, mupirocin calcium ointment is safe and effective in eliminating S. aureus nasal carriage in healthy persons for up to 3 months and appears to have a corresponding effect on hand carriage at 72 hours after therapy.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriers in CAPD with mupirocin.

We have studied the efficacy of topical Mupirocin for elimination of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus) nasal carriage in CAPD patients. Staph. aureus nasal carriers in our CAPD program were randomized to one of two groups: Group 1, treated with Mupirocin, and Group 2, treated with neomycin sulphate nasal ointment. The prevalence of Staph. aureus nasal colonization was 44% for patients (24/54) and 17% for dialysis partners (5/29). Group 1 included 11 patients and 1 partner, and Group 2, 8 patients and 2 partners. In Group 1, the eradication rate was 100%, and the recolonization rate was 0, 8, 41, 55 and 66% at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 months. In Group 2, the eradication rate was 40%, with a recolonization rate of 0.25 and 75% at 1, 2 and 3 months. Re-treatment with mupirocin was successful in 66% of the cases, compared to 20% for neomycin. The MIC90 of mupirocin for Staph. aureus was 0.5 mcg/mL, with an increase to 4 mcg/mL towards the end of the study. During the study period, there was a very low incidence of Staph. aureus peritonitis or catheter-related infections in patients treated with mupirocin. Secondary effects of mupirocin were negligible. Mupirocin is more effective than neomycin sulphate for the elimination of Staph. aureus nasal colonization in patients undergoing CAPD. Periodic re-treatment is frequently necessary, given the significant recolonization rate.

Administration, Topical↗

Emergence of resistance in staphylococci after long-term mupirocin application in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of once-weekly mupirocin application to catheter exit sites on Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) colonization and investigated the resistance of those bacteria to methicillin (MeR) and mupirocin (MuR). We enrolled 36 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients (mean age: 55.1 +/- 1.4 years) into the study. The patients (men/women: 21/15) had been applying mupirocin to the catheter exit site once weekly before the start of the study (mupirocin treatment duration: 3.1 +/- 2.0 years). During the study period, swabs were taken monthly from the nares, axillae, inguinal area, and catheter exit site. The swabs were inoculated on blood plates. Methicillin and mupirocin susceptibility were tested by disc diffusion according to the interpretative criteria of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. We evaluated a total of 144 cultures. Among CNS isolates, the MuR was 66%, and the MeR was 38.8%. At the start of the study period, 3 patients were S. aureus nasal carriers. In nasal swabs, no MeR S. aureus was identified, and only 1 MuR S. aureus was found. Once-weekly application of mupirocin at the exit site in CAPD patients led to comparable rates of colonization by MuR S. aureus as did thrice-weekly or more frequent application. Clinical results showing high mupirocin and methicillin resistance in CNS are controversial.

Adult↗

[Occurrence of high-level mupirocin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in hospitals and their characterization].

Occurrence of high-level mupirocin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in 5 hospitals in the region of Gdansk was determined. The study was carried out on 192 staphylococcal strains isolated from patients and medical staff. The mupirocin resistant strains were detected by 5 microgram mupirocin disc. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for mupirocin was estimated by E-tests. The mupirocin resistant strains were characterised by antibiotic sensitivity, including MIC for glycopeptides and oxacillin. Biotypes of resistant strains were also determined. Eight high-level mupirocin resistant strains (4.7%) were found. Only one strain expressed low-level resistance. All but one of high-level mupirocin resistant strains were resistant to methicillin. Six of them belonged to the S. epidermidis species but differences in the biotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns of these strains suggest they did not have a common origin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

A 1-year trial of nasal mupirocin in the prevention of recurrent staphylococcal nasal colonization and skin infection.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of nasal mupirocin in preventing recurrent staphylococcal nasal colonization and skin infection has been examined in immunodeficient patients and in healthy staphylococcal carriers but not in immunocompetent staphylococcal carriers who experience recurrent skin infections. We studied 34 such patients. METHODS: After an initial 5-day course of nasal mupirocin ointment for all patients, 17 patients continued to apply a 5-day course of nasal mupirocin every month for 1 year, and the other 17 patients applied a placebo ointment. Nasal cultures were obtained monthly, and all episodes of skin infection were recorded. RESULTS: The overall number of positive nasal cultures was 22 in the mupirocin group and 83 in the placebo group (P < .001), and the number of skin infections was 26 and 62, respectively (P < .002). Eight of the 17 mupirocin-treated patients but only 2 in the placebo group remained free of positive staphylococcal nasal cultures. One of the 10 patients who were free of colonization during the 12-month treatment period had skin infections, in contrast to all 24 of the patients with positive cultures (P < .01). Staphylococci resistant to mupirocin were observed in 1 patient. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A monthly application of mupirocin ointment in staphylococcal carriers reduces the incidence of nasal colonization, which in turn lowers the risk of skin infection.

Administration, Topical↗

Intranasal mupirocin to prevent postoperative Staphylococcus aureus infections.

BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Mupirocin ointment with and without chlorhexidine baths in the eradication of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Safety of targeted perioperative mupirocin treatment for preventing infections after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Indiscriminate antibiotic use may lead to development of antibiotic resistance. Preoperative mupirocin treatment decreases Staphylococcus aureus carriage and may reduce subsequent surgical site infection, but is unlikely to benefit noncarriers. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether avoiding mupirocin in noncarriers places them at increased risk for subsequent postoperative infection. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining incidence of postoperative infection in patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the Cleveland Clinic after introduction of a protocol of polymerase chain reaction screening for nasal S aureus carriage, and avoiding mupirocin treatment of noncarriers. RESULTS: Between August 1, 2002, and May 31, 2004, 6,334 patients were screened for nasal carriage of S aureus before undergoing cardiac surgery. There was no significant difference in infection rates between carriers and noncarriers when examining the incidence of all infections (5.6% and 5.0%; relative risk [RR] 1.11 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86 to 1.43]), infections caused specifically by S aureus (1.04% and 0.80%; RR 1.30 [95% CI: 0.71 to 2.39]), any surgical site infection (3.1% and 3.2%; RR 0.97 [95% CI: 0.69 to 1.36]), S aureus surgical site infection (0.82% and 0.58%; RR 1.41 [95% CI: 0.71 to 2.82]), any bloodstream infection (3.1% and 2.5%; RR 1.21 [95% CI: 0.86 to 1.71]), and S aureus bloodstream infection (0.37% and 0.48%; RR 0.77 [95% CI: 0.30 to 2.03]). Mupirocin use declined substantially after introduction of the protocol. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy of targeting perioperative mupirocin treatment to carriers leads to significant reduction in mupirocin use without increasing early postoperative infectious complications in noncarriers.

Aged↗

In vitro activity of lysostaphin, mupirocin, and tea tree oil against clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) commonly leads to infection by the same strain. We examined the activity of lysostaphin, mupirocin, and tea tree oil against clinical MRSA (n = 98) isolates. MIC(50) (range) were as follows: lysostaphin, 0.125 mg/L (0.125-0.25); mupirocin, 0.5 mg/L (0.19-1024); tea tree oil, 1024 mg/L (512-2048). High- and low-level mupirocin resistance was noted in 9.2% of our MRSA isolates. Time kill results indicate MRSA activity at 24 h was lysostaphin = gentamicin = vancomycin (P mupirocin > tea tree oil (P >or= .05). Checkerboard testing indicated a synergistic relationship between lysostaphin and mupirocin in combination with gentamicin. Antagonism was observed with the combination of vancomycin and tea tree oil; time kill studies confirmed this result. Decolonization options are limited and resistance to mupirocin exists. Lysostaphin and tea tree oil may offer additional therapeutic options for the decolonization of MRSA where current treatment alternatives are limited.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗