Using antiseptic soap, mouthwash and antibiotic nasal ointment post-discharge can help prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections and readmissions, according to a study published in New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers included more than 2,000 MRSA patients, who were discharged from Southern California hospitals between 2011 and 2014. The patients were divided into two groups: one with 1,063 participants who received a binder with recommendations for preventing infections related to personal hygiene, laundry and household cleaning, while the second with 1,058 participants received educational materials but also took MRSA decolonization steps for six months. The decolonization steps included using chlorhexidine antiseptic for bathing, chlorhexidine mouthwash and mupirocin, a nasal antibiotic ointment.
Researchers found the risk of MRSA infection was significantly lower in the decolonization group than in the education group, which resulted in a lower risk of hospitalization due to MRSA infection.
Additionally, decolonization group had lower likelihoods of contracting an infection from any cause as compared to the education group.
In the decolonization group, participants who adhered fully to the regimen had 44 percent fewer MRSA infections than the education group and 40 percent fewer infections from any cause. Mild side effects occurred in 4.2 percent of the decolonization group participants.