Value of Whole‐Body Washing With Chlorhexidine for the Eradication of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled, Double‐Blind Clinical Trial

Background. Whole‐body washing with antiseptic solution has been widely used as part of eradication treatment for colonization with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but evidence for the effectiveness of this measure is limited. Objective. To study the efficacy of whole‐body washing with chlorhexidine for the control of MRSA. Design. Randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded clinical trial. Setting. University Hospital of Heidelberg and surrounding nursing homes. Patients. MRSA carriers who were not treated concurrently with antibiotics effective against MRSA were eligible for the study. Intervention. Five days of whole‐body washing with either 4% chlorhexidine solution (treatment group) or with a placebo solution. All patients received mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine mouth rinse. The outcome was evaluated 3, 4, 5, 9, and 30 days after treatment with swab samples taken from several body sites. Results. Of 114 patients enrolled in the study (56 in the treatment group and 5...