title: Bactericidal efficacy of mupirocin in multi-antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus burn wound infection.
abstract: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) have become increasingly prevalent as pathogenic organisms, especially in burn wounds, with an associated mortality of 20-40% among those clinically infected. Mupirocin ointment, a new topical antibiotic, has proved in vitro and in vivo to be highly effective in the treatment of MRSA infections. A modified Walker burn wound model was used to define the rate of trans-eschar penetration, biodynamic availability and bactericidal efficacy of 2% mupirocin ointment in established MRSA burn wound infection. In-vitro penetration trials confirmed the effective diffusion of mupirocin through 1.5 mm eschar within 2 h. A single topical application of mupirocin resulted in a 98.3% (5.67 x 10(8) cfu/g of tissue--1.0 x 10(7) cfu/g of tissue) reduction in intra-eschar viable organisms within 36 h post application. A second topical application of mupirocin at 24 h resulted in a total reduction of 99.6% in viable intra-eschar organisms (1.85 x 10(8) cfu/gram of tissue--6.76 x 10(5) cfu/g of tissue). It is concluded that mupirocin is highly effective in controlling MRSA burn wound infection and should be applied topically every 24 h.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016712:Mupirocin; D009824:Ointments; D051381:Rats; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009824:Ointments; D016712:Mupirocin