Prevention of Bacterial Contamination in Spinal Fusion Surgery Using Polyhexanide-Poloxamer Wound Irrigation - a Randomized Clinical Trial

Surgical wound infections are among the possible complications following spinal surgery. There is a particularly increased risk of such infections in operations in which implants, such as screws or rods to stabilize the spine, are used. One reason for these infections is that many different bacteria live on human skin. These are found not only on the surface of the skin, but also in deeper layers of the skin, for example in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. In these areas, they cannot always be fully reached by conventional disinfectants before surgery. As a result, bacteria can enter the surgical site despite careful preparation. This study investigates a special irrigation solution called PREVENTIA®. It contains active substances, polyhexanide and poloxamer, which can kill bacteria and attack so-called biofilms. A biofilm is a type of protective layer that bacteria form on implants. Within this layer, the bacteria are better protected and can cause infections that are more difficult to treat. Until now, this solution has mainly been used for irrigating superficial wounds. However, it has not yet been investigated whether irrigating deeper tissue layers during spinal surgery can reduce the presence of bacteria. This study therefore aims to investigate: whether irrigating the surgical wound with PREVENTIA® results in fewer detectable bacteria in the surgical site, and whether this method may potentially help to reduce infections in the surgical site.