Tea Tree Essential Oil Research

1. A randomized controlled trial of tea tree oil (5%) body wash versus standard body wash to prevent
colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in critically ill adult. BMC Infectious
Diseases 2008, 8:161

Over the past ten years MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) has become endemic in hospitals and is associated
with increased healthcare costs. Critically ill patients are most at risk, in part because of the number of invasive therapies
that they require in the intensive care unit (ICU). Washing with 5% tea tree oil (TTO) has been shown to be effective in
removing MRSA on the skin.

2. Susceptibility of transient and commensal skin flora to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree
oil)? Department of Microbiology, The University of Western Australia

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of a range of transient and commensal skin flora
to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, or tea tree.

Conclusions: Staph aureus and most of the gram-negative bacteria tested were more susceptible to tea tree oil than the
coagulase-negative staphylocci and micrococci. These results suggest that tea tree oil may be useful in removing
transient skin flora while suppressing but maintaining resident flora.

3. Acaricidal Activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil - In Vitro Sensitivity of Sarcoptes scabiei var
hominis to Terpinen-4-ol. The Menzies School of Health Research laboratory, Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia, Arch
Dermatol. 2004;140:563-566.

Objective: To compare the acaricidal activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil (TTO) and some of its individual active
components on the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis (scabies).

Conclusions: Documentation of resistance against antiectoparasitic compounds is increasing. Reported S scabiei
treatment failures with lindane, crotamiton, and benzyl benzoate, as well as likely emerging resistance to 5% permethrin
and oral ivermectin, are of concern and advocate for the identification and development of novel acaricidal drugs. Tea
tree oil is a membrane-active biocide extracted from the tree M alternifolia. It is a principal antimicrobial in a wide range
of pharmaceuticals sold in Australia, with the main active component being oxygenated terpenoids. The results suggest
that TTO has a potential role as a new topical acaricide and confirm terpinen-4-ol as the primary active component.