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Article: Antibiotic can help reduce surgical wound infection rates.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- AORN Journal
- Article date:
- September 1, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Mupirocin, an antibiotic ointment, has been found to cut the rate of surgical wound and hospital-based infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus in half when smeared inside the noses of surgical patients, according to a June 12, 2002, news release from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. This bacteria normally is present in the nostrils of 25% to 30% of all hospital patients and does not necessarily cause them harm. It can, however, contaminate surgical sites and cause severe, even deadly, infections. These types of infections contribute millions of dollars to the annual cost of health care.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Iowa determined the ...