The investigators will conduct a randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study of nasal
decolonization with retapamulin vs. placebo for the eradication of MRSA nasal carriage among
adult carriers with low-level (MIC 8-256) and high-level mupirocin resistant (MIC >256)
strains.
Objectives:
1. To determine the percent of intervention vs. control patients with successful MRSA nasal
decolonization as determined by bilateral nares swabs following a 5-day twice-a-day
regimen of retapamulin.
2. To determine the time to decolonization based upon interim and final bilateral nares
swabs.
3. To determine the acceptability of retapamulin by surveying participants about their
experience and adverse events experienced during this study.
The duration of participant follow-up is expected to last up to 7 weeks.
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Altabax (retapamulin) during
decolonization of MRSA carriers with mupirocin-resistant strains, stratified by low-level and
high-level resistance to mupirocin. Mupirocin resistance is increasingly common and there is
no approved substitute topical agent for decolonization of the MRSA nasal reservoir.