lubricating jelly (University of Tennessee)

Lubricating jelly is a sterile, water-soluble, non-medicated gel typically used in medical procedures to reduce friction and discomfort. In the specific context of a clinical trial conducted by the University of Tennessee (NCT00821145), it was utilized as a placebo control applied to the nares (nostrils) of trauma ICU patients colonized with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The study aimed to evaluate whether active decolonization using mupirocin ointment and chlorhexidine baths was more effective than a control regimen consisting of lubricating jelly and soap baths in preventing invasive MRSA infections. As a placebo, the lubricating jelly provides no pharmacological or antimicrobial activity, serving only as a physical control for the intranasal application of mupirocin.