Reducing Wound Infections Using Bioelectric Wound Dressings

The standard of care for enhance recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol uses chlorhexidine alcohol base prep as the way to clean the skin preoperatively to decrease bacterial flora before sterile prep at the OR.

Under ERAS protocol there is no recommendations on any post-operative dressing. Biolelectric wound dressing has been introduced, used and proof to decrease wound infection in orthopedic extremity clean surgery for years.

The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of using Bioelectric wound dressing on the pre-operative wound site and post operatively and compared it outcomes to the standard of care chlorhexidine skin preparation.

Inclusion criteria

• Elective diverticular, benign polyp, or colon cancer resection
• Age 18-90 years old
• All patients must receive some kind of bowel prep (SU- prep, pills, Go-Lytely, milk of magnesia, etc.…)
• Must be off antibiotics for more than 2 weeks before surgery
• Surgery must be laparoscopic, hand assisted or Robotic
• Skin will be closed in layers and subcuticular interrupted fashion
• Just one dose of preoperative antibiotics (Invanz or equivalent if patient is allergic)
• Patients will have a primary anastomosis, no colostomy.
• Patient must be compliant with dressing care
• Ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Active infections before surgery -example: Intra-abdominal abscess not drained or actively on antibiotics on the day of surgery, skin infections
• Inability to take intestinal bowel preparation
• HgbA1c >8
• BMI >40
• Immunosuppression
• Need of steroid stress dose pre-op
• Patient receiving active chemotherapy
• Need of stoma (end ostomies after resection protective stoma included)
• Need of blood transfusion during surgery
• Use of irrigation with antibiotics or IRRISEPTR during surgery
• Any standard contraindication to anesthesia and/or surgery
• Pregnancy or lactating women
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Inability to follow instructions for dressing care
• Sensitivity or allergy to silver or zinc