Consenting adult (at least 18 years old)subjects will be given retapamulin or placebo. At the time of recruitment, all subjects will complete a detailed survey administered by trained research staff. This survey will include questions related to self care, home hygiene practices, and known risk factors for MRSA acquisition. Subject follow up will include repeat bilateral nares swabs and follow up surveys related to compliance, experience (side effects/concerns) with the assigned regimen, and ongoing risk factors will occur either during a home visit (or facility visit if the patient is admitted to a hospital or nursing home at the time of the required visit) or at the University of California Irvine (UCI) Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS), a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) site which provides clinic visit support for pilot studies.