Description

In this trial, participants will be assigned randomly to have their surgical skin site prepared for surgery with either chlorhexidine gluconate-alcohol solution or povidone-iodine solution. These are two types of solutions that have antiseptic properties, which means they help eliminate harmful bacteria on the skin at the time of surgery, and therefore, reduce the risk of infection. Surgeons routinely use either chlorhexidine-based or iodine-based skin preparation solutions at the time of surgery to sterilize the surgical area. However, we don't know which one works best for patients having revision joint replacement surgery. There is a small chance of having an allergic reaction to the chlorhexidine or iodine, but there is no additional risk by participating in this study, as these skin preparation solutions are routinely used in practice.

The main outcome of interest is the need for re-operation for a wound complication or an infection of the prosthetic joint within one year after surgery. Other key outcomes are surgical site infection, mortality, and readmission to hospital. Participants will be contacted 30 days after surgery to complete a survey online, by phone, or in person, which will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. All other outcome data will be collected by phone call, health records, routine hospital monitoring, or electronic registry data at thirty days and one year after surgery.

You may choose to participate in this trial, or not. If you decide to participate, you will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) by a computer, to one of the possible interventions. You will be told which group you have been assigned to. Participating in this program is your choice (i.e., is voluntary). You have the right to choose not to participate, or to stop participating in this program at any time. Your decision will not affect the care you receive at this time, or in the future. As part of this program, we will use data that is already routinely collected from your hospital stay for administrative and quality-improvement purposes. We will collect your OHIP number to securely link the records we collect to other databases already collected. We will also collect your first and last name, email address and phone number, for follow-up survey purposes. The person conducting this study and other study staff will keep the information they see or receive about you confidential. Your de-identified study information will be kept in a secure and confidential location and then destroyed according to institutional policy. You will not be paid for taking part in this study and there will be no costs associated with participation. If you agree to take part, there may or may not be any direct benefit to you. You will receive a Research Study Information Sheet for your reference. The Research Ethics Board that oversees the ethical conduct of this study may review your relevant study records for audit purposes.