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NCT Number: NCT05030220

Testosterone Levels and Cutibacterium

Phase 1: In 51 patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasties, total serum testosterone, free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin levels obtained in the clinic before surgery were correlated with the levels of Cutibacterium on the skin in clinic, in the operating room prior to surgery, and in the skin incision.

Phase 2: The investigators wish to determine if preoperative serum testosterone levels are associated with risk for shoulder PJI (periprosthetic joint infection) in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty. Also to determine if preoperative serum testosterone levels are predictive of bacterial load of deep tissue cultures taken at the time of revision shoulder arthroplasty in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty.

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Key information

Conditions

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder

Age range

18 year–89 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Anastasia Whitson, BS

CONTACT

[email protected]

Jason Hsu, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

About this study

Phase 1: 51 patients having elective shoulder arthroplasty were offered the opportunity to participate, consented and enrolled in this prospective clinical cohort study.

At a preoperative clinic visit, basic demographic information was collected along with the patient's response to a question about taking supplemental testosterone. A swab of the unprepared skin over the area of the intended surgical incision was obtained and sent for culture. At this clinic visit, a sample of the patient's blood was also obtained and submitted to our clinical laboratory for the levels of total serum testosterone, sec hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and free testosterone.

Immediately before surgery, another swab of the unprepared skin over the area of the intended surgical incision was once again obtained and sent for culture. After incision, a swab of the freshly incised dermis was obtained and sent for culture.

All 3 swabs that were obtained were observed for 21 days. The investigators analyzed the cultures to determine the presence and load of bacteria using a semiquantitative method, known as the Cutibacterium specimen value (SpCuV)

Phase 2: This phase will also involve a onetime pre-operative testosterone serum test. If the subject consents to participate, this additional sample of blood will be collected for a testosterone serum test during the routine pre-operative blood draw that all patients have before a shoulder arthroplasty regardless of research participation. The investigators will include cultures such as skin swabs taken at pre-operative clinic appointments, skin swabs taken at the time of surgery, incision swabs taken at the time of surgery, and discarded tissue from surgery using our standard protocol for specimens. For this study's outcome measures, the investigators will record the culture results from those clinical specimens and compare them to the testosterone serum test. Some subjects may also be a part of a long term follow-up study and the follow-up data (self-reported outcome measures, etc.) from that study will be included for analysis for those patients.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Phase 1 Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients having elective shoulder arthroplasty

Phase 1 Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of shoulder septic arthritis
  • antibiotic use within 3 months prior to surgery
  • recent treatment for acne
  • Lacked fluency in English

Phase 2 Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients having elective shoulder arthroplasty

Phase 2 Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lacked fluency in English

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Serum testosterone

    Time frame: At pre-operative clinic appointment, typically within 30 days prior to surgery

  2. Free testosterone

    Time frame: At pre-operative clinic appointment, typically within 30 days prior to surgery

  3. sex hormone binding globulin

    Time frame: At pre-operative clinic appointment, typically within 30 days prior to surgery

  4. Cutibacterium specimen value

    Time frame: Skin swab at pre-operative clinic appointment, typically within 30 days prior to surgery

  5. Cutibacterium specimen value

    Time frame: Skin swab immediately pre-operative

  6. Cutibacterium specimen value

    Time frame: Freshly incised dermis of surgical wound

  7. Preoperative serum testosterone levels are associated with risk for shoulder PJI in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty.

    Time frame: Up to 20 years after surgery

  8. Preoperative serum testosterone levels are predictive of bacterial load of deep tissue cultures taken at the time of revision shoulder arthroplasty in patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty

    Time frame: 21 days after surgery

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Anastasia Whitson, BS

CONTACT

[email protected]

206-755-7847

Jason E Hsu, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

330-883-8829

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Washington

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Association Between Serum Testosterone Levels and Cutibacterium Culture Positivity During Shoulder Arthroplasty

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Sep 1, 2021
Registry last updated
Mar 30, 2025

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.

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