Photo Credit: ZayWin Htal

The following is a summary of “Success rates of decolonisation treatment and risk factors for chronic carriage in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus throat carriers: a retrospective population-based cohort study,” published in the November 2024 issue of Infectious Disease by Graham et al. 

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a carriage of throat infection, has been associated with lower success rates of decolonization treatments.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to characterize decolonization treatment and outcomes in Danish MRSA throat carriers.  

They analyzed data from MRSA throat carriers in the Capital Region of Denmark between July 2018 and June 2019. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with achieving MRSA clearance.  

The results showed that, of 178 participants, 129 (72%) had MRSA free by study completion. A total of 78 (44%) cleared MRSA after treatment. Additionally, 26 (15%) became MRSA-free without treatment, and 25 (14%) cleared MRSA unrelated to any treatment attempt. The success rate for the first decolonization treatment, primarily nasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine body wash, was 23%. Systemic clindamycin, used in 52 cases, had a 52% success rate. The logistic regression indicated that living with 3 to 4 other MRSA carriers were negatively associated with MRSA clearance, though not significant after adjustment. Prior MRSA detection in clinical samples was linked to a lower likelihood of becoming MRSA-free after adjustment. Topical decolonization treatment was also associated with a decreased probability of MRSA clearance.  

Investigators concluded that MRSA throat carriers, decolonization treatment had a moderate success rate, and factors such as household MRSA carriage and previous clinical MRSA infections were associated with lower eradication rates. 

Source: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23744235.2024.2433239