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A major study in hospital ICUs shows that bathing patients daily with an antimicrobial soap and applying antibiotic ointment in the nose reduced by 44 percent the bloodstream infections caused by dangerous pathogens, including the drug-resistant bacteria MRSA (pictured).

ICU patients who are bathed daily with antiseptic wipes have significantly lower rates of bloodstream infections and are less likely to acquire antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the skin, according to a new study from researchers including David Warren, MD, medical director for infection prevention at the School of Medicine.