Dr. Friedlander recommends adding one-quarter of a cup of Clorox to a regular bath and repeating this treatment two times a week. In addition, some experts apply mupirocin ointment twice a day to the nares for 1 week each month.
"If you don't repeat the mupirocin treatment for a week each month, the patient appears more likely to colonize," she said. "There is no absolutely clear superior, evidence-based regimen, but studies are ongoing and we may have some more information in the future."
Control of atopic dermatitis "is the first goal in preventing infection," she pointed out. "If you control the itching and maintain the skin barrier, you are less likely to have the patient self-inoculate with staph or any other organism."
Dr. Friedlander disclosed that she has received grant and research support, honoraria, and/or consulting fees from Barrier Therapeutics Inc., Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Sanofi-Aventis, and Stiefel Laboratories Inc.
This patient's family mistook an MRSA infection for multiple spider bites. Courtesy Dr. Sheila Fallon Friedlander