What topical or oral treatments do you recommend for patients with recurrent MRSA infections?

In my experience, the best way to evaluate recurrent MRSA infections is to check the nasal cultures of the patient and caregivers. Sometimes cutaneous carriage of the organism also needs to be checked and treated.

Good hygiene with regular hand washing or alcohol sanitizers is essential.

Treatment with intranasal mupirocin 2% ointment 2x daily for 1 week and daily bathing with Chlorhexidine for 10-14 days. I sometimes will recommend Dilute bleach baths 1-2 x per week for 3 months in those with the recalcitrant disease.

The house and work environment especially the bathroom and commonly touched areas should be thoroughly cleaned with appropriate Staph aureus active cleansers to eliminate environmental sources of infection.

Reinfection can ...