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Chlorhexidine Vaginal Cleansing Versus Iodine Prior to C-section and the Rate of Postoperative Infection

Chlorhexidine Vaginal Cleansing Versus Iodine Prior to C-section and the Rate of Postoperative Infection: Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03431701
Enrollment
333
Registered
2018-02-13
Start date
2018-02-08
Completion date
2019-06-30
Last updated
2019-09-27

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

Conditions

Vaginal Scrubbing

Brief summary

Background: Women undergoing cesarean delivery have 5 to 20 fold greater risk for infection and infectious morbidity compared with those undergoing vaginal birth. Endometritis, febrile morbidity, and wound infection are the most frequent complications of post cesarean infections. Endometritis accounts for 6-27% followed by clinically significant fever, which was reported about 5-24%,while the incidence of wound infection is about 2-9%.Previous studies evaluated whether vaginal cleansing can reduce the incidence of postoperative infectious morbidity. In most of the studies, povidone iodine was used as intervention. Objectives: The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that preoperative vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine would be superior to iodine for the prevention of maternal infectious morbidities including endometritis, fever and wound complications. Methods: This prospective randomized single blinded controlled trial will be conducted at Makassed General Hospital between February 2018 and January 2019. Total of 300 patients, 150 in each group, will be enrolled. Group 1 patients will receive chlorhexidine vaginal cleansing while group 2 patients will receive iodine prior to C-section. Adverse post infectious morbidities such as endometritis, febrile illness and wound infections will be observed within 30 days of C-section.

Detailed description

This prospective randomized single blinded controlled trial will be conducted at Makassed General Hospital between February 2018 and January 2019. All pregnant women who will undergo cesarean delivery and willing to sign the informed consent will be included. Total of 300 patients, 150 in each group, will be enrolled. Group 1 patients will receive chlorhexidine vaginal cleansing while group 2 patients will receive iodine prior to C-section. Adverse post infectious morbidities such as endometritis, febrile illness and wound infections will be observed d within 30 days of C-section. Vaginal cleansing will be performed in conjunction with the abdominal preparation with foam sponge that contains either chlorhexidine or iodine, sponge will be inserted into the vagina and rotated 360 degrees in the vaginal cavity for about 30 sec. All participants will receive a single body mass index (BMI) based antibiotic dose of cefazolin within 30 minutes prior to the incision.

Interventions

OTHERChlorhexidine

Vaginal cleansing will be performed in conjunction with the abdominal preparation with foam sponge that contains chlorhexidine. A sponge soaked with chlorhexidine will be inserted into the vagina and rotated 360 degrees in the vaginal cavity for about 30 seconds

OTHERIodine

Vaginal cleansing will be performed in conjunction with the abdominal preparation with foam sponge that contains iodine. A sponge soaked with iodine will be inserted into the vagina and rotated 360 degrees in the vaginal cavity for about 30 seconds

OTHERAntibiotics

All participants will receive a single body mass index (BMI) based antibiotic dose of cefazolin or clindamycin within 30 minutes prior to the incision.

Sponsors

Makassed General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* all pregnant women who will undergo cesarean delivery * and willing to sign the informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Known allergy to the antiseptics used * Infection diagnosis on admission * Age ≤ 17 years

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Infectious morbiditiesWithin 30 dayspost cesarean infectious morbidities: endometritis, febrile morbidity and wound infection

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Length of hospital stayWithin 30 daysLength of hospital stay after delivery
Readmission to the hospitalWithin 30 daysPercentage of patients readmitted to the hospital

Countries

Lebanon

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026