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The Amputation Surgical Site Infection Trial (ASSIT)

A Randomised Control Trial to Determine Whether a 5 Day Course of Antibiotics is More Clinically and Cost Effective Than a 24 Hour Prophylactic Course for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection Following Lower Limb Amputation

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02018094
Acronym
ASSIT
Enrollment
160
Registered
2013-12-23
Start date
2013-10-08
Completion date
2017-01-02
Last updated
2019-07-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Wound Infection, Amputation Wound

Keywords

Amputation, Infection, Skin Preparation, SSI, Stump, Wound

Brief summary

* Lower limb amputations are performed usually as a last resort in patients with acute and chronic limb ischaemia (CLI) caused by vascular disease, poorly controlled diabetes or, infection. * In the period 2003-2008 there were approximately 5,000 amputations per year in the UK. * The Centre for Disease Control defines a Surgical Site Infection (SSI) as an infection within 30 days of an operation or up to one year if an implant is left in place and the infection is related to an operative procedure. * Figures from the Surgical Site Infection Surveillance reported that the highest rate of surgical site infection was reported in association with lower limb amputation at 13.1%. * There is a clear under-representation and the infection rate within our institution is approximately 25% which reflects the infection rate reported in a recent trial by Sadat et al (22.5%) * Prevention of surgical site infections is of paramount importance to patients, healthcare providers and policy-makers, as they impact on morbidity and mortality and have significant time and cost implications. * Currently there is NO CONSENSUS as to what the best practice is towards antibiotic administration in such patients. From a questionnaire-based audit we performed including vascular departments across the entire country, practice varies in both course duration (single dose → 5 days antibiotic course) as well as choice of antibiotics. * The guideline at our institution suggests the 5-day course of antibiotic prophylaxis. The course duration varies depending on the clinical picture as well as microbiology results and recommendations. * There are no randomised control trials that have investigated this aspect of patient care. We have set up one such trial and through it, we are looking to establish a standard practice which will hopefully be as beneficial as possible to the patient but also cost-effective for NHS.

Detailed description

As above

Interventions

Augmentin 1.2g IV three times daily for 24 hours. If the patient is randomised to the 5-day duration antibiotic arm then Augmentin 625mg oral tablets three times daily are added to the 24 hour course for a further 4 days.

DRUGIodine

Intra-operative skin preparation prior to incision to skin.

DRUGMetronidazole

500mg IV three times daily for 24 hours. If the patient is randomised to 5-day duration arm, then another 4 days of oral metronidazole at 400mg three times daily is added to the course

DRUGChlorhexidine

Alcoholic Chlorhexidine skin pre-op preparation

DRUGTeicoplanin

Teicoplanin 400mg on induction. If penicillin allergic and on 5-day antibiotic arm then add clindamycin 300mg 4 times daily for further 4 days

DRUGClindamycin

Clindamycin 300mg 4 times daily orally to be used in case of penicillin allergy

Sponsors

University of Hull
CollaboratorOTHER
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Adults ≥18 yrs undergoing lower limb amputations who are able to consent to the trial. 2. Able to understand the Patient Information Sheet and capable and willing to give informed consent and follow the protocol requirements (including attending all follow-up visits)

Exclusion criteria

1. Allergies to chlorhexidine/ alcohol/ iodophors 2. Inability to give informed consent 3. Patients who are admitted to hospital with severe sepsis secondary to gas gangrene requiring multiple operations and admission to Intensive Care Unit. 4. Aged under 18 years at the time of recruitment 5. Use of investigational drug/device therapy within preceding 4 weeks that may interfere with this study. 6. Toe amputations

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Surgical Site Infection30 daysPrimary objective: to establish the effect of 5 days of antibiotics versus a 24-hour prophylactic course on the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) - total ASEPSIS score \>21

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain Control1 yearMcGill Pain questionnaire
Satisfactory healing rates3 monthsMetric Measurement. Asepsis score derived by HPA post-discharge questionnaire. Clinical examination, quality of life, time to prosthesis also recorded.
Quality of life Questionnaire1 yearAssessed with Short form (SF)-12 questionnaire
Resource useup to 3 monthslength of stay, return to surgery, number of visits to general practitioners, hospital visits, and prescription of antibiotics.
Mobility1 yearLocomotor Capabilities index - 5
Impact of different skin preparations on infection rates30 daysASEPSIS Questionnaire score \>21
Rate of re-intervention30 daysTypes of re-intervention: angioplasty, bypass, debridement, revision to higher level amputation.
Mortality1 yearMortality of a patient
Rate of C. Diff., MSSA (Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus), MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infection30 daysInfection progress

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 13, 2026