Octenidine nasal gel + octenidine wash once daily+ Bacillus subtilis MB40 — significant improvement but concerned about long-term resistance
Hey everyone, long-time lurker here. I’ve had recurrent folliculitis / pustules around my mouth and beard area for years now, confirmed MRSA colonization. At my worst I was getting 9–10 pustules at a time, constantly cycling through them. Tried multiple antibiotics over the years, always rebounds within a week of stopping. Frustrating doesn’t cover it.
About 3 weeks ago I started a new regimen and honestly the difference has been noticeable:
• Octenidine nasal gel (Octenisan MD) — applied inside nostrils daily
• Octenidine body wash — once daily shower
• Bacillus subtilis MB40 (Sporevia) 5 billion CFU — one capsule daily
I’m now getting maybe 1–2 small pustules instead of the 9–10 I was used to. Not zero, but the reduction is real and I’ll take it.
My theory is the nasal gel is suppressing the main reservoir that was continuously reseeding my skin. The wash handles surface colonization. Not 100% sure what the B. subtilis is contributing honestly but I’ve kept it in.
My question / concern:
I’m worried about using octenidine long-term — both the nasal gel and the wash. Has anyone here developed resistance or noticed it stop working after extended use? I’ve read that antiseptics are generally more resistance-resilient than antibiotics but I’m not sure how true that holds up for years of daily use on a mucous membrane specifically.
Is there a rotation strategy people use to protect against this? I’ve seen mentions of alternating with diluted PVP-I (povidone-iodine) for the nose but haven’t tried it yet.
Any experience appreciated — especially from people who’ve been managing chronic MRSA colonization long term.