Chlorhexidine Against Povidone-Iodine Trial (CAPIT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of pre-operative skin cleansing with chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine in preventing surgical site infection and establish the impact of aqueous versus alcoholic solutions, in patients undergoing clean or clean-contaminated, non-implant vascular surgery.
IRAS ID
93784
Contact name
Christina Moody
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research & Development Department, Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Eudract number
2013-004743-23
ISRCTN Number
N/A
Research summary
Surgical site infections occur in approximately 5% of patients and have a significant impact on patient morbidity, mortality and have subsequent time and cost implications. Surgeries are classified by type in relation to the potential for surgical site infection that is: clean; clean-contaminated; contaminated and dirty.
Despite the reported incidence of surgical site infections for clean surgery of 2.1% the incidence in practice varies significantly. Open varicose vein surgery has an incidence of surgical site infections reported in the literature which varies from 1.5% to 16%, whilst figures from the Surgical Site Infection Surveillance demonstrated a high rate of surgical site infections in patients undergoing lower limb amputation (13.1%). This is seen across all surgical specialities and infection rates in breast cancer surgery are reported as being between 3 and 15%. It is therefore clear that it is imperative to carry out further research to establish best practice for the reduction in surgical site infections.
Studies have failed to show a benefit from preoperative bathing / showering with chlorhexidine. Other studies have compared skin preparation with chlorhexidine with povidone iodine and have shown a reduction in infections in patients undergoing ’clean contaminated’ surgery when chlorhexidine is used.
We intend to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of pre-operative skin cleansing with chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine in preventing surgical site infection and establish the impact of aqueous versus alcoholic solutions, in patients undergoing clean or clean-contaminated, non-implant vascular surgery.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0388
Date of REC Opinion
10 Dec 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion