Preoperative Application of Chlorhexidine to Reduce Infection With Cesarean Section After Labor

Phase 2

Terminated

Interventions: Drug: 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth
Drug: 4% Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub

Brief Summary: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the second most common cause of nosocomial infections accounting for 15% of all nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients and 38% of nosocomial infections in surgical patients. In obstetric patients, infectious morbidity (i.e. SSI, endometritis) occurs in 5-10% of cesarean sections, which is 5-fold higher than vaginal deliveries. Additionally, infectious morbidity is thought to be highest in those patients who have cesarean sections after undergoing labor.

Chlorhexidine, a chemical antiseptic effective on gram positive and gram negative bacteria, reduces skin microflora/colonization but it is not clear if it decreases the risk of SSI.

Historically, chlorhexidine has been studied and used in orthopedic and cardiac implant surgeries. Research on the use of chlorhexidine for SSI prevention in cesarean sections is limited. This study intends to evaluate the effectiveness of use of both chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipe and vaginal scrub in reducing SSI in patients undergoing cesarean section that have previously been laboring. Patients will be randomized to one of two groups: wash with both a pre-operative CHG cloth prior to surgery and chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub in addition to standard preoperative scrub as compared to standard preoperative scrub alone.

Detailed Description: The study will be offered to women who are admitted to undergo labor at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The eligible women will be randomized to use of a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) cloth with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub (including standard preoperative care prior to cesarean section) or standard preoperative care. Participants will not be blinded to the arm in which they have been assigned.

Researchers will have access to all patients scheduled for delivery at Mount Sinai Medical Center. About 1800 deliveries by cesarean section occur each year at Mount Sinai. Of these, approximately 800 are cesarean sections after failed labor. Assuming a primary outcome rate of 20% in the control arm, a sample size of 329 in each group would give 80% power to detect a 40% reduction in surgical site infection between the active group and control. The aim is to recruit 400 patients per group (for a total of 800 patients) to account for patient drop out or non-compliance.

Sage Products, Inc will be providing the CHG cloths.

This study intends to show that simultaneous use of 2% CHG cloths and 4% CHG vaginal scrub prior to cesarean section will reduce the rate of SSI in women who have previously been laboring.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Women at > 24 weeks gestation who are admitted in labor or admitted for induction of labor at Mount Sinai Hospital

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub and cloth	4% Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub	Patients will have a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth applied to their abdomen as well as 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub applied as a vaginal cleanse in the operating room prior to cesarean section
Chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub and cloth	2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth	Patients will have a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth applied to their abdomen as well as 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub applied as a vaginal cleanse in the operating room prior to cesarean section
Standard Treatment	2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth	Patients who are not in the intervention arm will receive the standard of care prior to a cesarean section. In the operating room the patient will receive an abdominal cleanse with 2% Chloraprep solution (2% chlorhexidine gluconate) in addition to routine IV antibiotics.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants With Surgical Site Infection	up to 6 weeks postpartum	Surgical site infection will be a composite of wound infection and postpartum endometritis. Endometritis is defined as postoperative fever of 100.4 °F or more occurring 24 hours after delivery associated with uterine tenderness and persistent foul-smelling lochia, requiring broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic administration. Wound infection is defined as erythema or wound edge separation with purulent discharge involving the cesarean incision site that requires antibiotic therapy and wound care.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Length of Operation	Day 1
Maternal Length of Stay	up to 6 weeks postpartum
Number of Participants With Readmissions	up to 6 weeks postpartum
Number of Participants With Maternal Complications or Interventions	up to 6 weeks postpartum
Number of Participants With Neonatal ICU Admissions	up to 6 weeks postpartum	Number of participants with newborn with neonatal ICU admissions
Estimated Blood Loss	Day 1
Length of Time From Incision to Delivery	Day 1