Whole Body Washing With Chlorhexidine for the Eradication of MRSA

The Value of Whole Body Washing With Chlorhexidine for the Eradication of MRSA - a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded Clinical Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00266448

Enrollment

100

Registered

2005-12-16

Start date

2001-01-31

Completion date

2004-04-30

Last updated

2005-12-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

MRSA-Colonization

Keywords

MRSA, eradication, chlorhexidine

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether whole body washing with chlorhexidine in combination with mupirocine nasal ointment is effective in the eradication of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Detailed description

The number and rate of infections due to meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)is increasing world wide. Patients who are colonized with MRSA are the main source for further distribution. In addition colonization with MRSA is a precondition for infection. Whole body washing with antiseptic solutions as part of eradication strategies for MRSA has been widely used. However, there is insufficient evidence to support use of topical antimicrobial therapy for eradicating of MRSA because treatment with antiseptic solution has never been compared to placebo. Comparison: The efficacy of whole body washing in the control of MRSA was studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial. The study treatment consisted of five days of whole body washing either with 4% chlorhexidine solution (verum) or with placebo. All patients received mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine mouth rinse. The outcome was evaluated 3, 4, 5, 9 and 30 days after treatment by swabs taken from several body site.

Interventions

DRUGChlorhexidine solution 4%

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* persons who are colonized with MRSA, i.e. one or more cultures from any body site yielded MRSA

Exclusion criteria

* ongoing systemic or local antimicrobial treatment directed against MRSA * hypersensitivity to mupirocin or chlorhexidine * pregnancy * previous enrolment

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
efficacy of a whole body treatment with chlorhexidine in eradicating overall MRSA carriage	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
development of MRSA infection	—
tolerance to the antiseptic whole body treatment	—

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026