Using vancomycin powder to prevent infections after spinal surgery

Randomized, Controlled, Single-blinded Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intra-wound Administration of Vancomycin Powder as Add-on Prophylactic Intraoperative Antibiotic in Patients at High Risk for Surgical Site Infections After Receiving Open Posterior Spinal Surgery

NA · The University of Hong Kong · NCT03839914

This study tests if using vancomycin powder during spinal surgery can help prevent infections in patients who are at high risk.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment76 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe University of Hong Kong (other)
Locations1 site (Hong Kong)
Trial IDNCT03839914 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness and safety of using intra-wound vancomycin powder as a preventive measure against surgical site infections in high-risk patients undergoing open posterior spinal surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the vancomycin powder or standard care without the antibiotic. The study aims to determine if the addition of vancomycin can significantly reduce infection rates and assess its cost-effectiveness compared to standard practices. The trial is designed as a prospective, single-blinded randomized controlled trial to ensure unbiased results.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older undergoing open posterior spinal surgery for spinal deformity, trauma, or tumors.

Not a fit: Patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery or those with a history of vancomycin resistance or allergies to vancomycin will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the incidence of surgical site infections in high-risk spinal surgery patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of topical vancomycin has gained popularity, high-quality evidence specifically for its use in open posterior spinal surgery is limited, making this study a novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female or male adult with age ≥18 years
2. Undergoing open posterior spinal surgery with instrumentation indicated for spinal deformity, trauma and tumor
3. Able to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of participation in the study
4. Appropriate voluntary written informed consent have been provided by patients

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has been treated with antibiotics due to primary spinal infection (i.e. spondylodiscitis) within 1 year prior to surgery
2. Ongoing treatment with antibiotics for other infections
3. Undergoing minimally invasive surgery or anterior-only surgical approaches or deformity correction surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (inherent low-risk for surgical site infections18)
4. Undergoing decompression-only surgery for cervical spine, spinal deformity, trauma and tumors
5. Has known history of allergy to vancomycin, penicillin and other glycopeptides (teicoplanin)
6. Has history of vancomycin resistance
7. Pregnancy

Where this trial is running

Hong Kong

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Spinal Deformity, Trauma, Spinal Tumor, Surgical Site Infection, vancomycin powder, surgical site infection, open posterior spinal surgery

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.