title: A glycerin hydrogel-based wound dressing prevents peristomal infections after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG): a prospective, randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the use of prophylactic antibiotics, peristomal infection is the most common complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). A new glycerin hydrogel (GHG) wound dressing has been proposed to possess more effective antimicrobial properties but has not been tested in a larger trial. The aim of the study was therefore to assess the superiority of GHG regarding the incidence of peristomal wound infections during a 30-day postprocedure follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight patients with cancer undergoing PEG were recruited from 1 university and 2 general hospitals between January 2007 and December 2008. Patients were randomized to group 1 (34 patients), which received GHG, or group 2 (34 patients), which received a traditional wound dressing. Dressing changes were done at day 1 and weeks 1, 2, and 4 (group 1) vs daily changes during week 1 and at weeks 2 and 4 (group 2). The PEG site was assessed by using 2 different infection scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the first and second weeks, a statistically significant reduction of the mean infection scores was seen in patients with GHG wound dressings (first week: 1.64 ± 1.6 vs 3.12 ± 2.69, P < .008; second week: 1.37 ± 1.11 vs 2.53 ± 2.37, P < .02). After 7 days, wound reactions occurred in 14.7% in the GHG group vs 47.05% in the traditional group (p <0.005). The GHG wound dressing required 5 times less frequent dressing changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GHG wound dressing significantly reduces peristomal wound infections and is a convenient, cost-effective alternative for wound management following PEG.
authors.affiliation: First Medical Department, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blumenstein
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borger
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loitsch
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bott
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tessmer
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054047:Surgical Stomas / Q000382:microbiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D005990:Glycerol