Nozin Antiseptic Drug Effective in Treating Staph aureus Nasal Carriage

- Health experts see study on non-antibiotic Nozin Nasal Sanitizer® as significant for infection control -

In a study of import for infection control, Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® reduces S. aureus nasal carriage without antibiotics. Study article published in American Journal of Infection Control, Aug. 2014. (Graphic: Business Wire)

In a study of import for infection control, Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® reduces S. aureus nasal carriage without antibiotics. Study article published in American Journal of Infection Control, Aug. 2014. (Graphic: Business Wire)

CHEVY CHASE, Md.--()--An over–the-counter topical antiseptic has shown a dramatic efficacy in decreasing Staphylococcus aureus and total bacteria nasal carriage in a hospital setting. This drug, Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® antiseptic, is alcohol based and is not likely to contribute to antibiotic resistance, a major factor for infection control. Experts believe this product could have a positive impact on current procedures to reduce carriage in the effort to lower the risk of infections in healthcare settings. Staph aureus is the leading cause of surgical site infections (SSI) in the United States, causing increased mortality rates, longer hospitalization and higher costs.

Nozin Nasal Sanitizer antiseptic, which is developed by the American company Global Life Technologies Corp., located in Maryland, significantly decreased Staph aureus (99%) in a one day treatment of healthcare providers in an independent clinical trial. The double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The principal investigator for the study and MUSC’s director of clinical research in the Department of Otolaryngology is Shaun Nguyen, M.D. “We were open-minded and wanted to come up with a hypothesis to determine whether or not an economical intervention could reduce staph carriage…it worked,” said Shaun Nguyen, M.D. about Nozin Nasal Sanitizer. The Nozin solution is applied topically with a swab to the vestibule of the nose. “This is a low-cost intervention that potentially can impact patients’ health in a significant way,” says Nguyen on the MUSC web site.

The study results were initially presented at the 2013 annual IDSA Conference, and have been published as a major article in a recent issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

Staph aureus is a cause of infections in both the community and health care environments. Staph aureus can cause conditions ranging from boils to pneumonia. It is well established that the nasal vestibule at the front of the nose is a significant reservoir for nasal colonization with bacteria such as Staph aureus. Due to frequent contact of the nose with hands, these pathogens can be acquired and spread. The increasing resistance of such bacteria to antibiotics, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is an ongoing problem in infection control. President Obama recently signed an executive order to set up an inter-agency task force to develop a national strategy concerning antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Some doctors not involved in the Nozin study agreed that the results were significant. David Ashe, M.D., F.A.A.P., an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at New York Medical College, sees Nozin Nasal Sanitizer antiseptic as a safe and effective tool and not contributing to antibiotic resistance. “The positive results on the study with Nozin Nasal Sanitizer are convincing and could represent a paradigm shift in infection control,” said Dr. Ashe.

John Willimann, president of Global Life Technologies Corp., said the company makes a strong case to healthcare institutions: “Nozin Nasal Sanitizer presents a new option that can help to safely reduce nasal carriage without antibiotics and with significantly lower costs in infection control procedures.” More about Nozin® Nasal Sanitizer® can be found at Nozin.com.

Contacts

Global Life Technologies Corp.
Virginie Bessonnier, 301-337-2059 x1001
virginie@nozin.com

Release Summary

Nozin antiseptic drug found effective against Staph aureus nasal carriage. Health experts see published study on non-antibiotic Nozin Nasal Sanitizer antiseptic as significant for infection control.

Contacts

Global Life Technologies Corp.
Virginie Bessonnier, 301-337-2059 x1001
virginie@nozin.com