According to a study, oil of oregano and monolaurin were able to kill Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in the laboratory at very low concentrations. They were also able to improve the survival rate of mice that were infected with Staphylococcus aureus. When they were combined, they had a synergistic effect and could kill the bacteria at even lower concentrations. The study also showed that oil of oregano and monolaurin were as effective as vancomycin, a common antibiotic, in treating the infection.