Preoperative Application of Chlorhexidine to Reduce Infection With Cesarean Section After Labor (PRACTICAL)

Angela Bianco

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 2

Conditions: Cesarean Section; Nosocomial Infection; Surgical Site Infection

Treatments: Drug: 4% Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub; Drug: 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03423147

GCO 17-1235

Details and patient eligibility

About

Surgical site infections (SSI) are the second most common cause of nosocomial infections accounting for 15% of all nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients and 38% of nosocomial infections in surgical patients. In obstetric patients, infectious morbidity (i.e. SSI, endometritis) occurs in 5-10% of cesarean sections, which is 5-fold higher than vaginal deliveries. Additionally, infectious morbidity is thought to be highest in those patients who have cesarean sections after undergoing labor.

Chlorhexidine, a chemical antiseptic effective on gram positive and gram negative bacteria, reduces skin microflora/colonization but it is not clear if it decreases the risk of SSI.

Historically, chlorhexidine has been studied and used in orthopedic and cardiac implant surgeries. Research on the use of chlorhexidine for SSI prevention in cesarean sections is limited. This study intends to evaluate the effectiveness of use of both chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipe and vaginal scrub in reducing SSI in patients undergoing cesarean section that have previously been laboring. Patients will be randomized to one of two groups: wash with both a pre-operative CHG cloth prior to surgery and chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub in addition to standard preoperative scrub as compared to standard preoperative scrub alone.

Full description

The study will be offered to women who are admitted to undergo labor at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The eligible women will be randomized to use of a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) cloth with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub (including standard preoperative care prior to cesarean section) or standard preoperative care. Participants will not be blinded to the arm in which they have been assigned.

Researchers will have access to all patients scheduled for delivery at Mount Sinai Medical Center. About 1800 deliveries by cesarean section occur each year at Mount Sinai. Of these, approximately 800 are cesarean sections after failed labor. Assuming a primary outcome rate of 20% in the control arm, a sample size of 329 in each group would give 80% power to detect a 40% reduction in surgical site infection between the active group and control. The aim is to recruit 400 patients per group (for a total of 800 patients) to account for patient drop out or non-compliance.

Sage Products, Inc will be providing the CHG cloths.

This study intends to show that simultaneous use of 2% CHG cloths and 4% CHG vaginal scrub prior to cesarean section will reduce the rate of SSI in women who have previously been laboring.

Enrollment: 319 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Women at > 24 weeks gestation who are admitted in labor or admitted for induction of labor at Mount Sinai Hospital

Exclusion criteria

• Allergy to chlorhexidine
• Unplanned or emergency cesarean section
• Women at <24 weeks gestation
• Estimated fetal weight <500 grams
• Fetal face presentation regardless of gestational age.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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319 participants in 2 patient groups

Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub and cloth

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will have a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth applied to their abdomen as well as 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub applied as a vaginal cleanse in the operating room prior to cesarean section

Treatment:

Drug: 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth

Drug: 4% Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub

Standard Treatment

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients who are not in the intervention arm will receive the standard of care prior to a cesarean section. In the operating room the patient will receive an abdominal cleanse with 2% Chloraprep solution (2% chlorhexidine gluconate) in addition to routine IV antibiotics.

Treatment:

Drug: 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth