A recent study suggests that MRSA infection can be eliminated before it becomes chronic in patients with cystic fibrosis.

The MRSA-eradication protocol included oral antibiotics (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or, if sulfa-allergic, minocycline plus rifampin), chlorhexidine mouthwash, nasal mupirocin, chlorhexidine body wipes, and environmental decontamination.

At day 28, 18 of 22 patients in the MRSA-eradication arm were MRSA-negative, compared with five of 19 patients in the observation arm (82% vs. 26%, p<0.001), the researchers report in Thorax, online November 15.

Among the 27 participants who were MRSA-positive at the screening visit, eight of 12 in the treatment group versus two of 15 in the observation group were MRSA-negative at day 28.

The rate of hospitalization from screening through day 168 was 78% lower in the MRSA-eradication group than in the observation group (p=0.01), although the proportion of participants experiencing at least one pulmonary exacerbation between screening and day 28 did not differ significantly between the groups.

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