Reducing surgical site infections after colon or small bowel surgery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The DECREASE SSI Trial aims to reduce post-discharge surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients who have undergone open colon or small bowel surgery. This multi-center, randomized clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of chlorhexidine bathing and nasal mupirocin against a placebo treatment over a 30-day period following discharge. With 2,700 participants, the study seeks to identify simple and effective interventions to enhance patient care and outcomes for the 675,000 patients who undergo these surgeries annually.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older
* Recent open (not solely laparoscopic) surgery involving an abdominal incision within the past 14 days. For cesarean section, recruitment restricted to BMI ≥ 40.
* Able to communicate regularly by phone
* Able to bathe, shower or have this task performed by a caregiver

Exclusion Criteria:

* Transfer to an acute care hospital
* Discharged to receive end-of-life hospice measures
* Discharged more than 14 days after surgery
* Allergic to mupirocin and/or chlorhexidine
* Active infection at enrollment\*

  \*Refers to
  1. Infections requiring systemic antibacterial agents, so viral illness (e.g., COVID, flu) is not an exclusion.
  2. Topical antibacterial agents do not count toward exclusion (e.g., topical products for acne)
  3. Prophylactic antibacterial agents do not count toward exclusion
* Surgical incision not closed at discharge

Where it's running

• Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  Newport Beach, California, United States Recruiting
• University of California, Irvine Medical Center
  Orange, California, United States Recruiting
• University of California, Davis Medical Center
  Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting
• University of California, San Francisco Medical Center
  San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Susan Huang, MD, MPH — University of California, Irvine
• Study coordinator: Susan Huang, MD, MPH
• Email: sshuang@hs.uci.edu
• Phone: (949) 824-5073

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Silver foam dressing after cesarean: does it prevent infection as well as standard care?

  This trial tests whether a silver-containing foam dressing worn over cesarean incisions is no worse than standard dressings at preventing surgical site infections.

  Recruiting Montefiore Medical Center · The Bronx, New York · NCT07914569

• Skin staples vs polypropylene skin sutures after elective laparotomy

  This trial tests whether skin staples or polypropylene sutures work better for closing the skin after elective abdominal surgery in adults.

  Recruiting Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences · Islamabad, Capital · NCT07781878

• Hernia Sac Flap Coverage of Mesh in Complex Bony-Edged Ventral Hernias

  We’re testing whether using the patient’s own hernia sac as a living flap underneath the mesh helps healing after complex ventral hernia repair when part of the edge is bone.

  Recruiting Minia University · Minya, Minya Governorate · NCT07720154

• Steri-Strips added to standard wound closure after cesarean delivery

  This study tests whether adding Steri-Strips after a C-section helps reduce wound problems for pregnant patients.

  Recruiting Riverside University Health System Medical Center · Moreno Valley, California · NCT07686913

• Cold atmospheric plasma to improve cannulation-site wound healing after extracorporeal life support

  This trial will test whether adding cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to standard wound care helps adults on extracorporeal life support heal cannulation-site wounds faster and with fewer infections.

  Recruiting National Taiwan University Hospital · Taipei · NCT07501897

• Preventing wound infections in children having open groin surgery with IV antibiotics or antimicrobial-coated sutures

  This will test whether a single IV antibiotic dose or antimicrobial-coated sutures prevent wound infections in children having open groin surgery.

  Recruiting Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital · Ile-Ife, Osun State · NCT07346742

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.