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Pharmacy

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treatment pack

Patient Information Leaflet

There are two products in the pack that you have received today:

Chlorhexidine (Hydrex) 4% Solution
Mupirocin 2% Nasal Ointment

The chlorhexidine is an antiseptic wash and the mupirocin ointment is an antibiotic. Following the instructions below should remove the MRSA bacteria from your skin to enable your operation to proceed. Contact the clinic or ward area that issued the pack if you think that you may be allergic to either product.

Instructions for use

Chlorhexidine Solution

  1. Use this product to wash your body once a day, every day, for five days. The preparation should be applied directly on to wet skin, as alternative to shower gel or soap. Ensure that you wash your armpits, feet and groin areas thoroughly.
  2. Wash your hair twice using the product during those five days. It should be used as an alternative to shampoo.

The preparation should remain in contact with skin and hair for at least one minute prior to rinsing.

Mupirocin 2% Nasal Ointment

1. Wash your hands before and after using the product.
2. Put a small amount of ointment (about the size of a matchstick tip) on your little finger and place inside your nostril. Then, remove your finger, leaving behind the ointment in your nostril.
3. Repeat for the second nostril.
4. Close your nostrils by pinching the sides of your nose together and rub to spread the ointment around the nose.
5. Repeat three times a day for five days.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Muhammad Abdulla, Pharmacy. Date originated: July 2021. Review date: July 2024 Next Review Date April 2027 Version: 2. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/02149.