Evaluation of Emerging New Treatments for Infection Prevention in Total Joint Replacement (PREVENT-IT)

Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Emerging Novel Treatments for Infection Prophylaxis in Total Joint Replacement: A Pilot Study

At the end of total joint replacement (TJR) surgery, surgeons wash and clean the surgical wound. This is done to lower the risk of infections. Currently, most surgeons use saline to wash the surgical wound and do not place antibiotics in the wound . However, some recent studies have shown that using povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine-based solutions (both are types of antiseptics) to wash the surgical site and placing antibiotics directly into the wound may be effective in reducing infections in TJR surgery compared to saline and no antibiotics. However, no study has determined which solution is better at reducing the number of infections in patients undergoing TJR. The investigators also do not know if the addition of antibiotics applied to the wound will decrease infections. Currently, there are no surgical guidelines around infection prevention in total joint replacement. A large scale, multi-site, pragmatic 3 x 2 factorial randomized controlled trial is need that compares these six treatment groups. However, before this, a smaller pilot study must be conducted to determine the feasibility of a larger study. PREVENT-iT will address these important gaps in knowledge and clinical practice.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Periprosthetic Joint Infection; Draining Wound
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Povidone-Iodine Lavage Solution; Drug: Topical Antibiotic; Drug: Chlorhexidine Lavage Solution; Drug: Saline Lavage Solution

Detailed Description

The investigators propose a pilot study that will determine the feasibility of a definitive trial that compares irrigation fluids and topical antimicrobials to reduce the risk of wound complications requiring reoperation in patients undergoing primary or aseptic revision hip or knee TJR.

In the pilot phase, the investigators will compare three irrigation fluids (povidone-iodine lavage, chlorohexidine lavage, and normal saline) and the investigators will compare the use of vancomycin powder versus no powder in a 3 x 2 factorial RCT design.

Therefore, eligible and consenting participants will be randomized to one of six treatment groups:

1. Povidone-iodine lavage and local antibiotics
2. Chlorhexidine lavage and local antibiotics
3. Normal saline lavage and local antibiotics
4. Povidone-iodine lavage with no local antibiotics
5. Chlorhexidine lavage with no local antibiotics
6. Normal saline lavage with no local antibiotics

Study participants will be assessed at regular intervals in the one year following their TJR. The primary clinical outcome is PWD or PJI requiring reoperation within 90 days of TJR. The secondary clinical outcome is PJI within 12 months of TJR.

The time frame of 90 days was selected for the primary clinical endpoint (any reoperation for PWD or PJI) for the pilot phase of this study because the interventions may have a profound impact within the first three months after TJR. Measuring the primary outcomes at this time will allow the study team to examine any acute and early outcomes related to the intervention. This will also provide the study team with the opportunity to identify any potential problems with the interventions.

The one-year timeframe for the secondary clinical endpoint (PJI) was selected for the pilot phase of this study because the majority of PJIs are likely to be diagnosed with one year of TJR surgery. This time frame will allow the study team to record and analyze most of the PJIs, and like the primary outcomes, it will allow for the examination of early outcomes, and any potential problems with the treatments.

The investigators hypothesize the following:

1. Patients who have their surgical wound irrigated with either povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine will have a significantly lower rate of PWD and PJI requiring reoperation compared to patients who have their wound irrigated with saline.
2. Patients who have their surgical wound irrigated with povidone-iodine will have similar rates of PWD and PJI requiring reoperation as compared to patients treated with chlorohexidine.
3. Patients who receive topical vancomycin will have a significantly lower rate of PWD and PJI requiring reoperation compared to patients who did not receive topical antibiotics.
4. Patients who have their surgical wound irrigated with either povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine will have a significantly lower rate of PJI compared to patients who have their wound irrigated with saline.
5. Patients who have their surgical wound irrigated with povidone-iodine will have similar rates of PJI compared to patients treated with chlorohexidine.
6. Patients who receive topical vancomycin will have a significantly lower rate of PJIs compared to patients who did not receive topical antibiotics.

Participants will be followed for one year for safety and in anticipation that the pilot study may continue into the definitive trial phase. At the conclusion of the pilot study, the Principal Investigators will determine whether to:

• Continue with the existing protocol and proceed with the definitive trial.
• Revise the protocol based on lessons learned from the pilot phase.
• Conclude that the trial is not feasible.

The feasibility objectives in our pilot study do not lend themselves to traditional quantitative sample size calculations. The sample size for the pilot study will be 500 patients. This sample size for the pilot study was chosen in consideration of the following items:

• Due to the low event rate of PJI/PWD in this population, our initial sample size estimates suggest that the investigators will need a sample size of approximately 20,000 patients for the definitive trial. Given the large size of the definitive trial, a larger than usual sample size of 500 participants is needed and will represent approximately 2.5% of the sample size of a definitive trial. This will provide sufficient data to inform feasibility, sample size, and refine the design of the proposed definitive trial.
• As the definitive trial will have a large sample size and will be international in scale, the investigators need to demonstrate to our potential funding agencies our ability to enroll a high number of patients and maintain high level data collection and follow-up.
• The investigators also require a sufficient number of events in the pilot study to establish the adjudication process. A sample size of 500 participants will allow for the reporting and adjudication of approximately 15 events.

Statistical Methods:

Analysis Plan Overview The analysis and reporting of results will follow the CONSORT guidelines for reporting of randomized pilot and feasibility trials. The investigators will use descriptive statistics, reported as count and percentage or mean and standard deviation depending on the type of variable to summarize the results of our feasibility objectives of this pilot study. Feasibility outcomes will be based on descriptive statistics reported as % (95% CI).

The analyses will be conducted using R (Vienna, Austria).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 495
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N4A6
      • St. Joseph's Healthcare
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8V 1C3
      • Hamilton Health Sciences- Juravinkski Hospital
  • Quebec
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada
      • Montreal General Hospital
    • Montreal, Quebec, Canada
      • St. Mary's Hospital
• Spain
  • Barcelona, Spain
    • Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
  • Barcelona, Spain
    • Hospital Clinic Barcelona

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients 18 years of age or older.
2. Undergoing primary or revision TJR.
3. Informed consent obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Received antibiotics for any reason in the two weeks prior to their TJR.
2. Chronic or acute infection at or near the TJR site.
3. Prior history of PJI.
4. Undergoing surgery for a diagnosis of a fracture.
5. Open wounds on affected limb.
6. Undergoing bilateral TJR.
7. Medical contraindication to povidone-iodine.
8. Medical contraindication to chlorhexidine.
9. Medical contraindication to vancomycin.
10. Current or anticipated incarceration.
11. Terminal illness with expected survival less than 90 days.
12. Currently enrolled in a study that does not permit co-enrollment.
13. Unable to obtain informed consent due to language barriers.
14. Problems, in the judgment of study personnel, with maintaining follow-up with the patient.
15. Prior enrollment in the trial.
16. Other reason to exclude the patient, as approved by the Methods Centre.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Povidone-iodine Lavage and Local Antibiotics; 1 litre of 0.35% povidone-iodine lavage solution will be used. 2 grams of Vancomycin antibiotic powder will be applied to the deep joint (deep to fascia) following lavage solution and immediately prior to closure.	Drug: Povidone-Iodine Lavage Solution; 0.35% povidone-iodine solution mixed with 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline solution. Commercially available products with 0.35% povidone-iodine and sterile isotonic saline solution may also be used.; Drug: Topical Antibiotic; 2 grams Vancomycin powder
Experimental: Chlorhexidine Lavage and Local Antibiotics; 1 litre of 0.05% chlorhexidine lavage solution will be used. 2 grams of Vancomycin antibiotic powder will be applied to the deep joint (deep to fascia) following lavage solution and immediately prior to closure.	Drug: Topical Antibiotic; 2 grams Vancomycin powder; Drug: Chlorhexidine Lavage Solution; 0.05% chlorhexidine solution mixed with 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline solution. Commercially available products with 0.05% chlorhexidine and sterile isotonic saline may also be used.
Experimental: Normal Saline Lavage and Local Antibiotics; 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline solution will be used. 2 grams of Vancomycin antibiotic powder will be applied to the deep joint (deep to fascia) following lavage solution and immediately prior to closure.	Drug: Topical Antibiotic; 2 grams Vancomycin powder; Drug: Saline Lavage Solution; 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline
Experimental: Povidone-iodine Lavage Solution with no Local Antibiotics; 1 litre of 0.35% povidone-iodine lavage solution will be used immediately prior to closure.	Drug: Povidone-Iodine Lavage Solution; 0.35% povidone-iodine solution mixed with 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline solution. Commercially available products with 0.35% povidone-iodine and sterile isotonic saline solution may also be used.
Experimental: Chlorhexidine Lavage Solution with no Local Antibiotics; 1 litre of 0.05% chlorhexidine lavage solution will be used immediately prior to closure.	Drug: Chlorhexidine Lavage Solution; 0.05% chlorhexidine solution mixed with 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline solution. Commercially available products with 0.05% chlorhexidine and sterile isotonic saline may also be used.
Active Comparator: Normal Saline Lavage with no Local Antibiotics; 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline solution will be used immediately prior to closure.	Drug: Saline Lavage Solution; 1 litre of sterile isotonic saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility of a Definitive Trial based on the following criteria domains: 1) Participant Enrollment, 2) Administration of Treatments, 3) Data Collection Methods, and 4)Compliance with the Protocol.	Each domain will be interpreted via a "traffic light" approach, in which "green" will indicate moving forward as is with the definitive trial, "yellow" will mean proceeding with some modifications, and "red" will indicate that the definitive trial is not feasible. Feasibility criteria will be monitored over the course of the pilot study and modifications will be made to the protocol during the pilot phase to increase feasibility.	2 - 2.5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Persistent Wound Drainage (PWD) and Periprosthetic Joint Infections (PJI) requiring reoperation	Incidence of PWD and PJI events requiring reoperation will be measured. PWD will be defined as a non-infectious disturbance in wound healing of short duration that occurs during the days following TJR. PJI will be defined by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria for diagnosis of PJI. Reoperations will include, but are not limited to, irrigation, debridement, liner exchange, and implant exchange. Reoperations for hardware complications or fracture will not be considered study events. A blinded Adjudication Committee will review all reported reoperations to confirm that they meet the criteria for being a study event.	Within 90 days of the Total Joint Replacement Surgery

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tertiary/exploratory Outcome: Periprosthetic Joint Infections (PJI)	Incidence of PJI events will be measured. PJI will be defined by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria for diagnosis of PJI. Reoperations will include, but are not limited to, irrigation, debridement, liner exchange, and implant exchange. Reoperations for hardware complications or fracture will not be considered study events. A blinded Adjudication Committee will review all reported reoperations to confirm that they meet the criteria for being a study event.	Within 12 months of the Total Joint Replacement Surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
• Collaborators: McMaster University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Thomas Wood, MD, McMaster University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 11, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 4, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 28, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 22, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 15, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 3, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 28, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Infections; Communicable Diseases; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Disinfectants; Plasma Substitutes; Blood Substitutes; Pharmaceutical Solutions; Chlorhexidine; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Povidone; Povidone-Iodine
• Other Study ID Numbers: PREVENT-IT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No