Positive Health Online

Abstract

DRYDEN and co-workers, Department of Microbiology and Communicable Disease, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5DG, UK, matthew.dryden@weht.swest.nhs.uk, have tested tea tree oil for the clearance of MRSA infection.

Background

The aim of the study was to compare two topical MRSA (Methycillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or 'hospital super-bug') eradication regimes in hospital patients.

Methodology

224 patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2% mupirocin nasal ointment, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate soap plus 1% silver sulfadiazine cream (114 patients), or 10% tea tree cream plus 5% tea tree body wash (110 patients), for five consecutive days.

Results

Of the patients who received standard treatment, 56 (49%) cleared the infection, compared to 46 (41%) patients who received the tea tree treatment. This difference was not statistically significant. Muciprocin was significantly more efficient at clearing nasal carriage than tea tree cream, but the tea tree regimen was significantly more efficient at clearing superficial skin sites and skin lesions.

Conclusion

The tea tree regimen for the clearance of MRSA is well tolerated, safe and efficient and could be considered for routine use.

References

Dryden MS, Dailly S, Crouch M. A randomized, controlled trial of tea tree topical preparations versus a standard topical regimen for the clearance of MRSA colonization. Journal of Hospital Infection 56 (4): 283-286, Apr 2004.