Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41748020›Full record

Observational studyClinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases2026

Changes in nasal and throat microbiota composition during and after mupirocin and chlorhexidine decolonization treatment in asymptomatic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers: a longitudinal observational study.

Sofie Marie Edslev, Cindy M Liu, Bobby Zhao Sheng Lo, Heidi Meiniche, Berit Lilje, Daniel E Park, Amalie Rendboe, Tony Pham, Juan E Salazar, Tor Toudahl and 7 more

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Sofie Marie EdslevDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: smed@ssi.dk.
Cindy M LiuEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland; Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Bobby Zhao Sheng LoDepartment of Clinical Microbiology and MRSA Knowledge Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Heidi MeinicheDepartment of Clinical Microbiology and MRSA Knowledge Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Berit LiljeDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Daniel E ParkAntibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Amalie RendboeDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Tony PhamAntibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Juan E SalazarAntibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Tor ToudahlDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anna Cäcilia InghamDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland.
Maliha AzizAntibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Mette Damkjær BartelsEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Microbiology and MRSA Knowledge Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Paal Skytt AndersenDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Robert Leo SkovDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland.
Lance B PriceDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland; Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Marc SteggerDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS), Basel, Switzerland; Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.

Funding

The dynamics of nasal bacterial ecology and S. aureus antagonismR01AI125562 · NIAID · GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI PRICE, LANCE BRADLEY · 2016 to 2020
$3.6M
Influence of the nasal microbiome on host susceptibility and response to respiratory virusesR01AI168182 · NIAID · GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Cindy Liu · 2023 to 2026
$2.8M
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI125562NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI168182
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDecolonization treatment of asymptomatic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage is recommended as a preventive measure in several countries, including Denmark. This study aimed to investigate the temporal dynamics of the nasal and throat microbiota in MRSA carriers undergoing decolonization treatment and to assess bacterial changes associated with treatment success.

methodsAdults with asymptomatic nasal MRSA carriage (n = 34) were included in this prospective observational study. Participants underwent a 5-day decolonization regimen consisting of 2% mupirocin nasal ointment and daily skin cleansing with 4% chlorhexidine soap. Nasal and throat samples were collected at multiple time points from baseline to 6 months after treatment and analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A reference group of untreated community-dwelling adults (n = 116) served as comparison.

resultsAt 1-month follow-up, 21 of 34 participants (62%) were successfully decolonized, whereas 13 (38%) remained MRSA positive at one or more body sites. At baseline, no nasal bacterial taxa were significantly associated with nasal MRSA decolonization outcome. The nasal bacterial community changed significantly within the first 2 days of treatment and remained distinct from the baseline composition for 30 days, both among those with successful decolonization and those who remained colonized with MRSA. Nasal community state types characterized by S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Moraxella, and Dolosigranulum became less prevalent during treatment, whereas community state types dominated by Corynebacterium and Cutibacterium increased in prevalence. Among successfully decolonized participants, the nasal microbiota at 3 and 6 months after treatment continued to differ from baseline and from the reference group, mainly because of a sustained depletion of Dolosigranulum and Moraxella. In contrast, the throat microbiota showed only short-term compositional changes.

conclusionsDecolonization treatment significantly alters the nasal microbiota, with both short-term and persistent effects. Future strategies could consider supplementation with beneficial nasal commensals, such as Dolosigranulum, after treatment to promote microbiome recovery.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsCarrier StateChlorhexidineMethicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusMicrobiotaMupirocinNosePharynxStaphylococcal InfectionsAdultAgedDenmarkFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleAnti-Bacterial AgentsChlorhexidineMupirocinRNA, Ribosomal, 16SMRSAMRSA decolonizationMupirocinNasal microbiomeThroat microbiome

Identifiers

PMID41748020
PMCPMC13570456

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.