title: Does single application of topical chloramphenicol to high risk sutured wounds reduce incidence of wound infection after minor surgery? Prospective randomised placebo controlled double blind trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of a single application of topical chloramphenicol ointment in preventing wound infection after minor dermatological surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomised placebo controlled double blind multicentre trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care in a regional centre in Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  972 minor surgery patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single topical dose of chloramphenicol (n=488) or paraffin ointment (n=484; placebo).
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of infection in the chloramphenicol group (6.6%; 95% confidence interval 4.9 to 8.8) was significantly lower than that in the control group (11.0%; 7.9 to 15.1) (P=0.010). The absolute reduction in infection rate was 4.4%, the relative reduction was 40%, and the relative risk of wound infection in the control group was 1.7 (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.5) times higher than in the intervention group. The number needed to treat was 22.8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of a single dose of topical chloramphenicol to high risk sutured wounds after minor surgery produces a moderate absolute reduction in infection rate that is statistically but not clinically significant. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN73223053.
authors.affiliation: James Cook University, School of Medicine, Mackay Base Hospital, Queensland 4740, Australia. clare.heal@jcu.edu.au
authors.forename: Clare F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.forename: Petra G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cruickshank
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pendergast
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drobetz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gluer
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lisec
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002701:Chloramphenicol