A team of researchers at the University of Iowa, lead by Marin Schweizer, have developed guidelines that could reduce the incidence of post-surgery infections by more than 70%. The sources of post-operative infection in 85% of cases originated with the patient. They were infecting themselves, sometimes with highly resistant microbes, such as MRSA. These microbes were found to be harbored in the nasal passages and the patients would transmit the microbe by touching their nose and then the wound. The protocol for this procedure is very simple,
The researchers are now conducting a study at 20 community hospitals nationwide to test its effectiveness. Judging from past, similar interventions, this should be successful. Interestingly, the study reported that 47% of hospitals do not use nose ointment before surgeries. Staph infections are extremely dangerous, and drug resistant strains, such as MRSA, can be nearly impossible to control.