Tea Tree Oil Regimen for Eradication of MRSA Colonization

Dryden, M.S., Dailly, S., & Crouch, M. (2004). A randomized, controlled trial of tea tree topical preparations versus a standard topical regimen for the clearance of MRSA colonization. J Hosp Infect, 56: 283-286.

In a randomized, controlled trial of hopsitalized patients, Dryden and colleagues compared the standard topical regimen for MRSA eradication with a tea tree oil regimen. The standard treatment (ST) included application of mupirocin nasal ointment (2%, tid), chlorhexidine gluconate body washes (4%, daily), and silver sulfadiazine cream applied to skin lesions (1%, daily). The tea tree oil regimen (TT) included tea tree cream applied intranasally (10%, tid), tea tree body washes (5%, daily), and tea tree cream applied to skin lesions (10%, daily). Both regimens were carried out for 5 days and implemented by the nursing staff.

There was no significant difference in overall eradication of MRSA carriage between the ST group (49%) and the TT group (41%). The mupirocin ointment used in the ST group was more effective at eliminating nasal carriage (78%) than the tea tree cream used by the TT group (47%). However, the tea trea body wash and topical cream was more effective than the chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine cream at clearing MRSA from superficial skin sites, including the axilla and groin, as well as from wounds (see below). There were no adverse effects from the topical regimens reported by patients and nursing staff.

Clearance of site-specific MRSA carriage 14 days after treatment

Axilla ST: 2/4 (50%), TT: 8/14 (57%)

Groin ST: 4/14 (29%), TT: 8/10 (80%)

Wound ST: 8/26 (31%), TT: 16/34 (47%)


There is increasing concern about the development of bacterial resistance to standard disinfecting agents such as those used in the ST arm of this study. Furthermore, side-effects such as pruritis may make the use of these agents less than ideal. The findings from this study suggest that topical tea tree preparations may be an effective alternative to chlorhexidine soap and silver sulfadiazine cream. However, the side-effects and optimal dosage of topical tea tree preparations should be evaluated further.