Bleach Baths to Control MRSA and S.aureus

Recently I saw a young, healthy woman in the clinic with recurrent MRSA boils.  Here is a paper on bleach baths to eradicate S.aureus colonization.


In a prospective trial, participants were randomized to receive no therapeutic intervention (control subjects) or one of three 5-day regimens: 2% mupirocin ointment applied to the nares twice daily, intranasal mupirocin plus daily 4% chlorhexidine body washes, or intranasal mupirocin plus daily dilute bleach water baths.

Decolonization was successful in 48% of the control group, 56% of the mupirocin only group, 54% in the mupirocin-chlorhexidine group, and 71% in the mupirocin-bleach group. 

An simple regimen of dilute bleach baths, intranasal mupirocin, and hygiene education effectively eradicated S. aureus.


It may be worth a try.