title: Preoperative topical antimicrobial decolonization in head and neck surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical site infections (SSIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after head and neck surgery. Our primary objective was to determine the efficacy of preoperative topical antimicrobial decolonization before head and neck surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted among 84 patients presenting for head and neck surgery requiring admission to an academic medical center. Preoperative cultures were performed to identify Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Patients were randomized to preoperative topical antimicrobial decolonization with a 5-day regimen of chlorhexidine skin rinses and intranasal mupirocin coupled with standard perioperative systemic antimicrobial prophylaxis, versus standard prophylaxis alone. The main outcome was the incidence of SSIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a trend suggesting a decrease in SSIs with perioperative topical antimicrobial decolonization (24% vs. 10%), there was no significant difference (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-1.18; P = .079). Patients with a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score (3 vs. 1; P = .02), with more operative blood loss (P = .05), and who required operative takeback (P = .04) had a higher rate of SSIs; there was a trend suggesting a higher rate of SSIs among patients undergoing clean-contaminated surgery compared to clean cases (P = .08) and among those having received prior radiation (P = .07) or chemotherapy (P = .06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative antimicrobial decolonization did not significantly decrease the incidence of SSIs after head and neck surgery, but might be considered for high-risk groups despite the lack of conclusive evidence confirming efficacy. Risk factors for SSIs after head and neck surgery are identified for the first time in a prospective study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. shumana@umich.edu
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.forename: Emily K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hauff
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chenoweth
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bradford
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D016712:Mupirocin; D002710:Chlorhexidine