To study the effect of applying a PHMB-based antiseptic solution to tie-over dressings in full-thickness surgical wounds in dermatologic surgery in order to minimise the development of surgical site infections. The bacterial dynamics in wounds pre-,intra-, and postoperatively will be examined in order to understand the pathogenesis of surgical site infections better.
40 patients with suspected skin cancer in the face planned for full-thickness surgery will be randomised into two groups: One will receive a traditional tie-over dressing saturated with NaCl and the other group will receive a tie-over dressing saturated with a PHMB-based antiseptic. A quantitative and qualitative bacterial analysis of wounds by using a modified Levine's swabbing technique will be carried out pre-,intra-,and postoperatively. The effect of nasal colonisation with S.aureus on the development of surgical site infections will be investigated. All wounds will be followed a week after surgery to assess development of infections.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
40
Applying a PHMB-based antiseptic to tie-over dressings
Placebo control
Department of dermatology, Skåne university hospital
Lund, Sweden
Measuring colony forming units in swabs collected from wounds pre-,intra- and postoperatively (7 days after surgery1). Change in bacterial load will be attributed to the effect of applying an antiseptic solution to wound dressings.
Wounds will be swabbed at end of surgery and then 7 days after surgery. Number and type of bacteria present will be analysed. Our hypothesis is that applying the antiseptic solution to the tie-over dressings will show a suppressed growth of bacteria when measured 7 days after surgery.
Time frame: 7 days
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