Effect of Body Wash with Tea Tree Oil on the
Prevention of Methicillin–Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus in Critically Ill Patients at a university hospital
in Egypt

Nahla Shaaban Khalil; Asmaa Ibrahim Abo Dead’s; Rahma Mousa Abdelazeem

Research Article

Effect of Body Wash with Tea Tree Oil on the Prevention of Methicillin–Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Critically Ill Patients at a university hospital in Egypt

Nahla Shaaban Khalil¹*, Asmaa Ibrahim Abo Dead’s², and Rahma Mousa Abdelazeem³

¹Assist professor at Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt

²Lecturer at Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

³Registered nurse at Mansoura University Hospital , Egypt

Corresponding Author

Received Date: April 01, 2019; Published Date: April 24, 2019

Abstract

Background: Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is independently is associated with mortality in critically ill adults. Tea tree has broad bactericidal activity. Clinical evidence supports its efficacy in eradicating MRSA, but there are no published data on its role in preventing MRSA colonization.

The aim of the study: To determine whether the daily use of 5% tea tree oil compared with standard care (soap and water) had a lower incidence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization.

Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized and conducted at the neurological, intensive care units at Mansoura University Hospital including 120 adult critically ill patients participated in the study.

Results: There were highly statistically significant differences between the study and control groups on the seventh day. So, all the study group subjects’ swabs from nose and groin were free from MRSA, while all the control group subjects’ swabs showed positive for MRSA infection.

Conclusion and recommendations: Tea tree oil is effective in preventing MRSA infection. Therefore, the establishment of using tea tree oil in the prevention of MRSA infection and further researches are highly recommended on a larger probability sample in the different geographical hospitals in Egypt to ensure generalization of findings.

Keywords: Tea tree oil; Critically Ill patients; MRSA

Article Details

Citation

Nahla Shaaban Khalil, Asmaa Ibrahim, Rahma Mousa Abdelazeem. Effect of Body Wash with Tea Tree Oil on the Prevention of Methicillin–Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Critically Ill Patients at a university hospital in Egypt. Iris J of Nur & Car. 1(4): 2019. IJNC. MS.ID.000519.