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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03431701

Chlorhexidine Vaginal Cleansing Versus Iodine Prior to C-section and the Rate of Postoperative Infection

Background: Women undergoing cesarean delivery have 5 to 20 fold greater risk for infection and infectious morbidity compared with those undergoing vaginal birth. Endometritis, febrile morbidity, and wound infection are the most frequent complications of post cesarean infections. Endometritis accounts for 6-27% followed by clinically significant fever, which was reported about 5-24%,while the incidence of wound infection is about 2-9%.Previous studies evaluated whether vaginal cleansing can reduce the incidence of postoperative infectious morbidity. In most of the studies, povidone iodine was used as intervention.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that preoperative vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine would be superior to iodine for the prevention of maternal infectious morbidities including endometritis, fever and wound complications.

Methods: This prospective randomized single blinded controlled trial will be conducted at Makassed General Hospital between February 2018 and January 2019. Total of 300 patients, 150 in each group, will be enrolled. Group 1 patients will receive chlorhexidine vaginal cleansing while group 2 patients will receive iodine prior to C-section. Adverse post infectious morbidities such as endometritis, febrile illness and wound infections will be observed within 30 days of C-section.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Makassed General Hospital

Beirut, Lebanon

About this study

This prospective randomized single blinded controlled trial will be conducted at Makassed General Hospital between February 2018 and January 2019. All pregnant women who will undergo cesarean delivery and willing to sign the informed consent will be included. Total of 300 patients, 150 in each group, will be enrolled. Group 1 patients will receive chlorhexidine vaginal cleansing while group 2 patients will receive iodine prior to C-section. Adverse post infectious morbidities such as endometritis, febrile illness and wound infections will be observed d within 30 days of C-section.

Vaginal cleansing will be performed in conjunction with the abdominal preparation with foam sponge that contains either chlorhexidine or iodine, sponge will be inserted into the vagina and rotated 360 degrees in the vaginal cavity for about 30 sec. All participants will receive a single body mass index (BMI) based antibiotic dose of cefazolin within 30 minutes prior to the incision.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • all pregnant women who will undergo cesarean delivery
  • and willing to sign the informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Known allergy to the antiseptics used
  • Infection diagnosis on admission
  • Age ≤ 17 years

Treatment and study plan

Chlorhexidine

Other

Vaginal cleansing will be performed in conjunction with the abdominal preparation with foam sponge that contains chlorhexidine. A sponge soaked with chlorhexidine will be inserted into the vagina and rotated 360 degrees in the vaginal cavity for about 30 seconds

Iodine

Other

Vaginal cleansing will be performed in conjunction with the abdominal preparation with foam sponge that contains iodine. A sponge soaked with iodine will be inserted into the vagina and rotated 360 degrees in the vaginal cavity for about 30 seconds

Antibiotics

Other

All participants will receive a single body mass index (BMI) based antibiotic dose of cefazolin or clindamycin within 30 minutes prior to the incision.

Primary outcomes

  1. Infectious morbidities

    Time frame: Within 30 days

    post cesarean infectious morbidities: endometritis, febrile morbidity and wound infection

Secondary outcomes

  1. Length of hospital stay

    Time frame: Within 30 days

    Length of hospital stay after delivery

  2. Readmission to the hospital

    Time frame: Within 30 days

    Percentage of patients readmitted to the hospital

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Makassed General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Chlorhexidine Vaginal Cleansing Versus Iodine Prior to C-section and the Rate of Postoperative Infection: Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Feb 13, 2018
Registry last updated
Sep 27, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.