title: Daily bathing with octenidine on an intensive care unit is associated with a lower carriage rate of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Routine daily bathing of intensive care (ICU) patients with topical chlorhexidine reduces meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition. The aim of this study was to investigate whether repeated five-day cycles of daily topical octenidine could result in a similar effect. This was a two-year retrospective, uncontrolled study in a mixed medical and surgical ICU/high dependency unit, demonstrating a 76% reduction in MRSA acquisition but no significant reduction in all ICU-acquired bacteraemias. Chlorhexidine use is increasing but resistance is being reported. This pilot study found a similar reduction in MRSA acquisition with octenidine as an alternative to chlorhexidine. Further study is required to establish causality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Preston, UK. Craig.Spencer@lthtr.nhs.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tillmanns
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001494:Baths; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007097:Imines; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D007097:Imines; D011725:Pyridines; C034213:octenidine