title: Reduction of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage in health care professionals by treatment with a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based nasal antiseptic.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Steed
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Shivangi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lohia
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Ernst W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Spannhake
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Electronic address: nguyensh@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000438:Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D010919:Placebos
keywords: Bacterial burden; Ethanol; Infection control; Nasal colonization