• Alexander J Kallen, Chad T Wilson, and Robin J Larson.
• VA Outcomes Group, VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT 05009, USA. Alexander.J.Kallen@dartmouth.edu
• Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2005 Dec 1;26(12):916-22.

ObjectiveTo review the evidence evaluating perioperative intranasal mupirocin for the prevention of surgical-site infections according to type of surgical procedure.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of published clinical trials.SettingStudies included were either randomized clinical trial or prospective trials at a single institution that measured outcomes both before and after an institution-wide intervention (before-after trial). In all studies, intervention and control groups differed only by the use of perioperative intranasal mupirocin in the intervention group.PatientsPatients undergoing general or nongeneral surgery (eg, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery).Main Outcome MeasureRisk of surgical-site infection following perioperative intranasal mupirocin versus usual care.ResultsThree randomized and four before-after trials met the inclusion criteria. No reduction in surgical-site infection rate was seen in randomized general surgery trials (summary estimates: 8.4% in the mupirocin group and 8.1% in the control group; relative risk [RR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 0.81 to 1.33). In nongeneral surgery, the use of mupirocin was associated with a reduction in surgical-site infection in randomized trials (summary estimates: 6.0% in the mupirocin group and 7.6% in the control group; RR, 0.80; CI95, 0.58 to 1.10) and in before-after trials (summary estimates: 1.7% in the mupirocin group and 4.1% in the control group; RR, 0.40; CI95, 0.29 to 0.56).ConclusionsPerioperative intranasal mupirocin appears to decrease the incidence of surgical-site infection when used as prophylaxis in nongeneral surgery. Given its low risk and low cost, use of perioperative intranasal mupirocin should be considered in these settings.

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