PLEASANTON, Calif., March 31, 2016 – Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic stewardship – the commitment to use antibiotics only when necessary to treat or prevent disease – combined with steps to prevent hospital-associated infections (HAIs) and transmission of resistant bacteria, is critical to stopping the spread of antibiotic resistance.

In 2014, one in seven surgical site infections (SSIs) was caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria identified as urgent or serious threats by the CDC. Nasal decolonization has become an important strategy to reduce the risk of SSIs as part of a bundled approach to infection prevention. However, growing evidence of bacterial resistance to commonly used antibiotics and the consequent potential for decolonization failure has made evaluating non-antibiotic methods a priority. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use can help decrease antibiotic resistance and healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes.

To help healthcare professionals in their ongoing efforts to protect patients from SSIs, Clorox Healthcare is introducing Clorox Healthcare™ Nasal Antiseptic Swabs, a povidone-iodine alternative to antibiotics, at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Surgical Conference and Expo.


Using an antiseptic, like Clorox Healthcare™ Nasal Antiseptic Swabs, instead of an antibiotic, like mupirocin, for preoperative nasal decolonization is a simple and effective way for any healthcare facility to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

"Clorox Healthcare understands the urgency to act on antibiotic stewardship," said Dr. Rosie D. Lyles, Head of Clinical Affairs for Clorox Healthcare. "Antibiotics save lives, but inappropriate prescribing and misuse puts patients at risk."

"It was important to us to bring forward an antiseptic nasal decolonization solution that would help protect patients from SSIs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria while enabling stewardship. Using the swabs can also increase the likelihood of compliance because the responsibility for application is shifted from patients to trained healthcare professionals."

SSIs are common and costly for both healthcare facilities and patients. They account for approximately 23 percent of HAIs and an excess of up to $3.5 billion in healthcare expenditures per year. The per-patient cost for an SSI can be as high as $60,0006 and increase the average length of hospital stays from seven to 11 days.

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