The Effect of Bacterial Decolonization Before Skin Cancer Surgery on Infection Rate of Lower Extremity Wounds Left Open to Heal

Study Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if reducing bacterial load on the skin and nostrils with topical antibacterial soap and ointment, respectively, reduces rate of infection in surgical sites on lower leg wounds left open to heal in adults undergoing skin cancer surgery. The main question it aims to answer is: Does Hibiclens antibacterial skin cleanser and mupirocin antibacterial ointment applied to nostrils prior to surgery lower the number of times participants develop an infection in their open wound on the lower leg? Researchers will compare the treatment group to the standard of care, which involves no treatment prior to surgery, to see if topical antibiotics applied prior to surgery affect infection rates between the two groups. Participants randomized to the treatment group will: Shower with Hibiclens once daily for 5 days prior to the day of surgery and apply mupirocin to the nostrils twice daily for 5 days prior to the day of surgery. They will then send pictures of their surgical site to monitor for signs of infection at 2-week and 4-week post-operation. Participants randomized to the control group (standard of care) will: NOT apply the topical antibacterials prior to the day of surgery. They will then send pictures of their surgical site to monitor for signs of infection at 2-week intervals for 1 month after surgery.

Primary Outcome

Signs of infection, including erythema, edema, drainage, and delayed healing, will be visually determined by study physicians with photographs of the surgical site collected from study participants. All patients will be followed up with a phone call at 1 month to monitor for any adverse events and additional signs of infection including pain, tenderness, warmth, and foul odor at the surgical site.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• DRUG Chlorhexidine gluconate (4%)
• DRUG Mupirocin 2% Ointment

Study Locations (1)