Clinical Trial: An Attempt to Reduce Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection in Soldiers

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: An Attempt to Reduce Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection in Soldiers: a Controlled Trial

Brief Summary: The main purpose of this study is to determine if applying mupirocin into soldiers noses who are colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) will reduce infections in them and their cohort of fellow soldiers.

Detailed Summary: Community-acquired MRSA infections are increasingly common in the community and in particular among certain groups of which soldiers are one. Many researchers and clinicians have postulated that one method to prevent infections is to selectively eradicate CA-MRSA in those who are colonized with the pathogen. The two main purposes of the study are: to determine if selective CA-MRSA eradication in subjects reduces infections in the CA-MRSA colonized individual; and to determine if selective CA-MRSA eradication in subjects reduces infections in the study cohort. Other information concerning CA-MRSA includes: prevalence, risk factors, and virulence data. The population will be soldiers enrolled in the combat medic training class at Ft. Sam Houston. We will enroll approximately 3000 soldiers over a two year period. After informed written consent, we will culture their anterior nares nares and administer questionnaires at the beginning and at the end of the study, following them prospectively for infections. The follow-up period will be 16 weeks. For those with CA-MRSA in their nares, they will be randomized (by cohort) to receive either 5 days of mupirocin or placebo.
Sponsor: Brooke Army Medical Center

Current Primary Outcome: Soft tissue infections in subjects who received the study medication and soft tissue infections in the study cohorts.

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Changes in S. aureus carriage rates (including MRSA).

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Brooke Army Medical Center

Dates:
Date Received: February 9, 2006
Date Started: January 2005
Date Completion: December 2005
Last Updated: February 13, 2006
Last Verified: December 2005