Povidone-iodine as an Alternative to Mupirocin for Nasal Decolonization

Author: Joan N. Hebden MS, RN, CIC, FAPICPresident – IPC Consulting Group LLC, Baltimore, Maryland

Povidone-iodine as an Alternative to Mupirocin for Nasal Decolonization: A New Domain for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Patient Safety

This whitepaper provides an overview of nasal decolonization, the impact on surgical site infections and data comparing current product options available to healthcare facilities.

Excerpt:
S. aureus has been a target for HAI reduction efforts and an important strategy for the prevention of serious staphylococcal infections is the elimination of S. aureus nasal carriage. For years, mupirocin (MO) has been the gold standard for nasal decolonization to combat SSIs and control transmission of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). However, widespread adoption of MO has led to mupirocin-resistant strains of S. aureus and treatment failures, prompting a shift to antiseptics such as povidone-iodine for HAI prevention and antibiotic stewardship efforts. The efficacy, safety, patient satisfaction and cost data on povidone-iodine is compelling and is a promising alternative to mupirocin.