A method for reducing the spread of bacterial infections includes identifying a group of individuals at risk of an infection that colonizes in the nose, determining whether any individuals can be exclude, designating an individual or group of individuals who will receive treatment, providing a strip, the strip having an effective amount of antimicrobial agent capable of being delivered to the colony of bacteria in, on, and around the nose, the strip is applied to the nose of the individual or group so to allow the agent to migrate to eradicate the colony in an embodiment, a surgical mask, or a similar mask that covers the nose and mouth, is provided, said mask having a portion of the mask that contacts the nose, and said portion containing an antimicrobial agent capable of being delivered to eradicate the colonization of bacteria within the nose.
