title: Effect of triclosan-coated sutures on the incidence of surgical wound infection after lower limb revascularization surgery: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical wound infection (SWI) is a common complication after peripheral vascular surgery. In a prospective study, triclosan-coated sutures were reported to decrease the incidence of surgical site infection after various surgical procedures. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that use of triclosan-coated sutures decreases the incidence of SWI after lower limb vascular surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blinded trial was conducted between July 2010 and January 2011 in five hospitals in Finland. We randomly allocated 276 patients undergoing lower limb revascularization surgery to a study (n = 139) or a control (n = 137) group. Surgical wounds in the study group were closed with triclosan-coated suture material, and wounds in the control group were closed with noncoated sutures. The main outcome measure was SWI. A surgical wound complication was considered to be an infection if there were bacteria isolated from the wound or if there were areas of localized redness, heat, swelling, and pain around the wound appearing within 30 days after the operative procedure. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of triclosan-coated sutures on the incidence of SWI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 61 (22.1 %) patients developed SWI. SWI occurred in 31 (22.3 %) patients in the study group and in 30 (21.9 %) patients in the control group (odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.61-2.01, p = 0.75.)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of triclosan-coated sutures does not reduce the incidence of SWI after lower limb vascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, North Karelia Central Hospital, Tikkamäentie 1, Joensuu, 80210, Finland. johanna.turtiainen@pkssk.fi
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turtiainen
authors.forename: Eija I T
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Saimanen
authors.forename: Kimmo T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: Antti I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Nykänen
authors.forename: Maarit A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Venermo
authors.forename: Ilkka T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Uurto
authors.forename: Tapio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakala
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures; D014260:Triclosan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D014260:Triclosan