LAS VEGAS – One type of over-the-counter product for topical wound ... a place for antibacterial treatments, usually creams or ointments.LASVEGAS–Onetypeofover-the-counterproductfortopicalwoundcareismoreeffectivethanothersinkillingmethicillin-resistantStaphylococcusaureusbacteria,orMRSA,whichispotentiallydeadlyandinrecentyearshasmovedfromitshistorichospitalsettingtoamuchbroaderpublicconcern.Anewlaboratorystudyindicatesthatmanyantibacterialproductshavesomevalue,butaproductmadewithbenzethoniumchloridekillscommontypesofnon-hospital–or“communityassociated”–MRSAbacteriabetterthanothercompounds.Clinicalstudiestoconfirmtheresultsareneeded,expertssay.ThefindingswerepresentedtodayatameetingoftheAmericanSocietyofHealth-SystemPharmacists,byDavidBearden,aclinicalassociateprofessorintheCollegeofPharmacyatOregonStateUniversity.ThesurgeinMRSAinfections–whichhavebeencalleda“superbug”andmedicalexpertssaykilledmorepeoplethanAIDSin2005–hasalarmedhealthprofessionals.Manynewcasesarebeingfoundinapublic,ratherthanhealthcaresetting,andarenowattackingyounger,healthierindividuals.Sincemanyofthesesystemicinfectionsbeginwithcuts,minorwoundsorskininfections,properfirstaidcareistakingongreaterimportancethanever.“Agoodcleaningwithsoapandwarmwaterisstillthefirstandbestlineofdefenseagainstinfectioninthecuts,scrapesandminorwoundsthateveryonegets,”Beardensaid.“Butthere’salsoaplaceforantibacterialtreatments,usuallycreamsorointments.Withthesignificantincreaseincommunity-associatedMRSAinfectionsinrecentyears,wewantedtofindoutwhichproductsmightworkthebestforthisconcern.”Inlaboratorystudies,OSUscientistscomparedthreetypesofcompoundsfortheireffectivenessinkillingfourstrainsofMRSAbacteriathataremostcommonlyfoundinapublicsetting.Thecompoundswerethosemadewithneomycinandpolymyxin;thosemadewithpolymyxinandgramicidin;andthosemadewithbenzethoniumchloridewithteatreeandwhitethymeoil.Thefirsttwotypesofproductsarecommonlyfound,withslightvariations,in“maximumstrength”or“tripleantibiotic”compoundsroutinelysoldindrugsto