Colonized employees linked to an outbreak may be treated with mupirocin ointment nasally to eliminate their carrier status as an alternative treatment to oral antibiotics. It is thought that elimination of nasal colonization is strongly linked to the elimination of MRSA from the hands of health care personnel. Some studies have shown that tea tree oil can be effective against antibiotic resistant Staph aureus. MRSA patients and suspected carriers should be isolated. Contact isolation is usually considered adequate although during an outbreak strict isolation is often recommended.
Some hospitals are able to cohort colonized and infected patients.
The most effective way to protect high risk patients from those with MRSA is to discharge those patients as quickly as possible. Problems with vancomycin treatment Vancomycin is not as active an agent against MRSA as penicillins against staphylococcus. However, recently, cases of prolonged, severe cholestatic hepatitis have been reported by patients using flucloxacillin. Certain measures have been taken to limit its use. Problems with clindamycin treatment May cause antibiotic associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis.