Mupirocin and Chlorhexidine Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in Patients with Community-Onset Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Abstract

ABSTRACTDecolonization measures, including mupirocin and chlorhexidine, are often prescribed to preventStaphylococcus aureusskin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of high-level mupirocin and chlorhexidine resistance inS. aureusstrains recovered from patients with SSTI before and after mupirocin and chlorhexidine administration and to determine whether carriage of a mupirocin- or chlorhexidine-resistant strain at baseline precludedS. aureuseradication. We recruited 1,089 patients with community-onset SSTI with or withoutS. aureuscolonization. In addition to routine care, 483 patients were enrolled in a decolonization trial: 408 received intranasal mupirocin (with or without antimicrobial baths), and 258 performed chlorhexidine body washes. Patients were followed for up to 12 months with repeat colonization cultures. AllS. aureusisolates were tested for high-level mupirocin and chlorhexidine resistance. At baseline, 23/1,089 (2.1%) patients carried a mupirocin-resistantS. aureusstrain and 10/1,089 (0.9%) patients carried chlorhexidine-resistantS. aureus. Of 4 patients prescribed mupirocin, who carried a mupirocin-resistantS. aureusstrain at baseline, 100% remained colonized at 1 month compared to 44% of the 324 patients without mupirocin resistance at baseline (P= 0.041). Of 2 patients prescribed chlorhexidine, who carried a chlorhexidine-resistantS. aureusstrain at baseline, 50% remained colonized at 1 month compared to 48% of the 209 patients without chlorhexidine resistance at baseline (P= 1.0). The overall prevalence of mupirocin and chlorhexidine resistance is low inS. aureusisolates recovered from outpatients, but eradication efforts were less successful in patients carrying a mupirocin-resistantS. aureusstrain at baseline.