Bacitracin versus mupirocin for Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization.

Author(s): Soto NE, Vaghjimal A, Stahl-Avicolli A, Protic JR, Lutwick LI, Chapnick EK

Affiliation(s): Department of Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11219, USA.

Publication date & source: 1999-05, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol., 20(5):351-3.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

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.