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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jun;58(11):1540-8.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu166. Epub 2014 Mar 14.

Hygiene strategies to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections: a cluster-randomized controlled trial among high-risk military trainees

Michael W Ellis  1 , Carey D Schlett, Eugene V Millar, Kenneth J Wilkins, Katrina B Crawford, Stephanie M Morrison-Rodriguez, Laura A Pacha, Rachel J Gorwitz, Jeffrey B Lanier, David R Tribble
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Hygiene strategies to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections: a cluster-randomized controlled trial among high-risk military trainees

Michael W Ellis et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Effective measures are needed to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in high-risk community settings. The study objective was to evaluate the effect of personal hygiene-based strategies on rates of overall SSTI and MRSA SSTI.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, field-based, cluster-randomized trial in US Army Infantry trainees from May 2010 through January 2012. There were 3 study groups with incrementally increased education and hygiene-based interventions: standard (S), enhanced standard (ES), and chlorhexidine (CHG). The primary endpoints were incidence of overall SSTI and MRSA SSTI.

Results: The study included 30 209 trainees constituting 540 platoons (168 S, 192 ES, and 180 CHG). A total of 1203 (4%) participants developed SSTI, 316 (26%) due to MRSA. The overall SSTI rate was 4.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.77-4.58) per 100 person-cycles. SSTI rates by study group were 3.48 (95% CI, 2.87-4.22) for S, 4.18 (95% CI, 3.56-4.90) for ES, and 4.71 (95% CI, 4.03-5.50) for CHG. The MRSA SSTI rate per 100 person-cycles for all groups was 1.10 (95% CI, .91-1.32). MRSA SSTI rates by study group were 1.0 (95% CI, .70-1.42) for S, 1.29 (95% CI, .98-1.71) for ES, and 0.97 (95% CI, .70-1.36) for CHG.

Conclusions: Personal hygiene and education measures, including once-weekly use of chlorhexidine body wash, did not prevent overall SSTI or MRSA SSTI in a high-risk population of military trainees.

Clinical trials registration: NCT01105767.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; chlorhexidine; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); military; skin and soft tissue infection.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Progression of trainees through skin and soft tissue infection prevention trial. Abbreviations: MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; SSTI: skin and soft tissue infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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