Reduction of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage in health care professionals by treatment with a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based nasal antiseptic

Lisa L. Steed, Justin Costello, Shivangi Lohia, Taylor Jones, Ernst W. Spannhake, Shaun Nguyen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Antibiotics used to reduce nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in patients before admission are inappropriate for carriage reduction on a regular basis within a hospital community. Effective nonantibiotic alternatives for daily use in the nares will allow reduction of this bacterial source to be addressed. Methods Our study tested the effectiveness of a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based antiseptic in reducing nasal bacterial carriage in health care professionals (HCPs) at an urban hospital center. HCPs testing positive for vestibular S aureus colonization were treated 3 times during the day with topical antiseptic or control preparations. Nasal S aureus and total bacterial colonization levels were determined before and at the end of a 10-hour workday. Results Seventy-eight of 387 HCPs screened (20.2%) tested positive for S aureus infection. Of 39 subjects who tested positive for S aureus infection who completed the study, 20 received antiseptic and 19 received placebo treatment. Antiseptic treatment reduced S aureus colony forming units from baseline by 99% (median) and 82% (mean) (P <.001). Total bacterial colony forming units were reduced by 91% (median) and 71% (mean) (P <.001). Conclusions Nasal application of a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based antiseptic was effective in reducing S aureus and total bacterial carriage, suggesting the usefulness of this approach as a safe, effective, and convenient alternative to antibiotic treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)841-846
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control
Volume42
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bacterial burden
  • Ethanol
  • Infection control
  • Nasal colonization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reduction of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage in health care professionals by treatment with a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based nasal antiseptic'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this