Randomized Trial of 2% Chlorhexidine-70% Isopropanol vs 5% Povidone Iodine-69% Ethanol for Skin A… (NCT03560193) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 4
Randomized Trial of 2% Chlorhexidine-70% Isopropanol vs 5% Povidone Iodine-69% Ethanol for Skin Antisepsis in Reducing Surgical-site Infection After Cardiac Surgery
France3,316 participantsStarted 2018-09-10
Plain-language summary
Despite completion of more than 9 million procedures each year in France, the best antiseptic solution to be used for preparing the skin to reduce risk of surgical site infection (SSI) remains unknown. 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-alcohol is superior to Povidone Iodine (PVI)-alcohol for short term vascular catheter care (Mimoz O, Lancet 2015; Pages J, Intensive Care Med 2016), but studies comparing both antiseptic solutions for clean-contaminated surgical procedures led to conflicting results.
The present study will be the first large scale multicenter randomized controlled trial adequately powered to compare efficacy and safety of CHG-alcohol over PVI-alcohol in reducing SSI after clean surgery.
A clean surgery was chosen because pathogens involved in SSI mostly originate from skin. Therefore, optimisation of skin disinfection before surgery has the potential to reduce the incidence of SSI. Cardiac surgery was chosen because SSI may be severe, diagnosis of SSI is easy to monitor and to define and infections arise earlier than other frequent clean surgeries using implants such as orthopaedic or vascular surgery.
The incidence of reoperation for any purpose will be used as the main objective because there are easy to track and define and are less susceptible to interpretation in an open trial than superficial SSI. According to CDC criteria, patients will be monitored up to Day 90 because mediastinitis after cardiac surgery may occur after the usual 30-day SSI surveillance period.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years)
* Undergoing any (scheduled) surgery of the heart (valve, coronary or combined surgery) or of the aorta via a median sternotomy
* Having given their informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with known allergies to CHG, PVI, isopropanol or ethanol
* Surgery for heart transplantation
* Any signs of inflammation or sternal instability at the site of sternotomy or operation for infection (SWI or endocarditis)
* Patients with history of cardiac surgery within 3 months preceding enrolment
* Participation to another clinical trial aimed at reducing SSI
* Patients already enrolled in this study
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women
* Women at age to procreate and not using effective contraception
* Patients not benefiting from a Social Security scheme or not benefiting from it through a third party
* Persons benefiting from enhanced protection, namely minors, persons deprived of their liberty by a judicial or administrative decision, adults under legal protection.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Incidence of any re-sternotomy occurring between Day 0 and Day 90 after surgery
Timeframe: 90 days
2
Incidence of any reoperation on saphen venous/radial artery site occurring between Day 0 and Day 30 after surgery.