SUSCEPTIBILITY OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS TO THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF MELALEUCA-ALTERNIFOLIA

All 66 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus tested were susceptible to th e essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, or tea tree oil, in disc di ffusion and modified broth microdilution methods. Of the isolates test ed, 64 were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 33 were mupiroc in-resistant. The MIC and MBC for 60 Australian isolates were 0.25% an d 0.50%, respectively. Comparable results were obtained by co-workers in Britain using similar methods. These in-vitro results suggest tea t ree oil may be useful in the treatment of MRSA carriage.