Can Tea Tree Oil Body Wash Prevent MRSA?

A study is investigating whether tea tree oil body wash can prevent the drug-resistant super bug MRSA in critically ill hospitalized adults.

MRSA, which is short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a growing problem. MRSA is untreatable with most antibiotics and can cause potentially deadly complications. Hospitals and nursing homes are the prime breeding grounds for the disease.

In some prior studies, washing the skin with tea tree oil has been shown to be effective in removing MRSA. Therefore, researchers are currently evaluating the effect of daily washing with a 5 percent tea tree oil preparation on new MRSA infections among ICU patients.

The trial started in 2007, and should be complete in 2010.


Sources:

>> Reuters January 2, 2009