Comparison of the Efficacy of Povidone-Iodine with Mupirocin in Decolonizing from the Nasal Cavity of Healthcare Workers: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Nasal colonization of increases the risk of nosocomial infections. Therefore, medications that can decolonize this pathogen can help prevent such infections.

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of povidone-iodine solution with intranasal mupirocin ointment in decolonizing from the nasal cavity of healthcare workers.

METHODS

This single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted on healthcare workers carrying S. aureus nasally. After confirming nasal colonization through culture tests, participants were assigned to intervention groups A and B with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Group A received intranasal mupirocin ointment twice daily for five days, while group B received intranasal povidone-iodine solution twice daily for five days. After the decolonization period, samples were taken to compare the efficacy of both interventions in decolonizing S. aureus.

RESULTS

In this study, 54 healthcare workers with a mean age of 39.37±7.80 years were included, 42.6% and 57.4% of whom were male and female, respectively. They were randomly assigned to each of the intervention groups. After the intervention, individuals who received povidone-iodine had significantly more positive cultures than those who received mupirocin (37.0% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.026). Additionally, factors such as age, gender, wards, and employment duration may affect the efficacy of mupirocin and povidone-iodine in decolonizing S. aureus from the nasal cavity.

CONCLUSION

The study findings revealed that both mupirocin and povidone-iodine were effective in decolonizing S. aureus from nasal carriers. However, mupirocin was more effective compared with povidone-iodine.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

IRCT 20170417033487 N2.