Local application of mupirocin ointment in the eradication of Staphylococcus aureus from nasal mucosa in patients on chronic hemodialysis

Abstract

Efficacy of locally applied mupirocin in the elimination of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) from the nasal mucosa in patients on maintenance hemodialysis was studied. SA was isolated in 27 patients (33.3% of the population of dialysis patients) and trials were carried out in 25 patients by applying a 2% mupirocin ointment for five days. The eradication amounted to 92% immediately upon therapy completion, and to 84%, 56%, 52% and 32% after 1, 2, 3 and 9 months. All SA strains isolated before and after the treatment were sensitive to mupirocin. The authors believe that mupirocin is efficient in the elimination of SA from nasal mucosa, however, control swabs should be periodically taken at two-month intervals.