To Assess Use of Vancomycin Powder in Craniotomy on Wound Infection Rates

Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Use of Vancomycin Powder in Craniotomy on Wound Infection Rates

Surgical site infection (SSI) after craniotomy is a major cause of morbidity and mortality besides its major health care cost. In each hospital, all measures are taken to decrease SSI. Despite current prophylactic measures, rates of SSIs have been reported in up to 5% of patients post craniotomy. Intrawound vancomycin powder has been studied extensively in spinal fusion surgeries and been found to reduce rates of surgical site infections (SSIs) significantly. Despite its success in spinal surgeries, topical vancomycin has not been extensively studied with respect to cranial neurosurgery.

The use of adjuvant vancomycin powder was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative infection as well as infection-related medical costs. These findings suggest that the use of adjuvant vancomycin powder in high-risk patients undergoing spinal fusion is a cost-saving option for preventing postoperative infections, as it can lead to cost-savings of $438,165 per 100 spinal fusions performed.

The investigators believe that Topical vancomycin is a safe, effective, and cost-saving measure to prevent SSIs following craniotomy.

its Prospective Randomized clinical trial. The investigator will do block randomization that is done by a biostatistician through SAS software . Patients will be divided in this Trial into two groups, first group (intervention arm) they will receive the drug (vancomycin). The second group (control arm) they will not receive the drug, otherwise both groups they will receive identical measure to decrease the postoperative SSI.

The investigator will use one vial of vancomycin that contains 1000 mg of the drug in the powder form.

The primary outcome variable will be SSI rate factored by cohort. Secondary outcome will be cost savings from vancomycin usage estimated from hospital costs associated with SSI in craniotomy patients, morbidity and mortality.

SSI found to be around 0.49% when vancomycin was used, while SSI in standard care found to be 5%, to get power of study 80% and level of significance 5%. Sample size will be 250 in each group using sample size calculator.

The statistical formula used in computation of required and adequate sample size in view of primary outcome i.e., SSI rate between the two groups:

The sample size was computed using the following statistical formula and sample size determination equation:

n = (Zα/2+Zβ)2 * (p1(1-p1)+p2(1-p2)) / (p1-p2)2

Where Zα/2 is the critical value of the Normal distribution at α/2 (e.g. for a confidence level of 95%, α is 0.05 and the critical value is 1.96), Zβ is the critical value of the Normal distribution at β (e.g. for a power of 80%, β is 0.2 and the critical value is 0.84) and p1 and p2 are the expected sample proportions of the two groups (SSI rate between the two groups i.e., vancomycin and control groups).

Before the study starts the investigator will do automated coded file with each code randomized to either arm (intervention arm and regular arm), then patient will be assigned to subsequent arm according to the code. CONSORT guidelines will be followed when reporting the results of the trail.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Any type of craniotomy whatever the cause.
2. Age more than 18 Years
3. Patient with no evidence of any source of infection

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any evidence of infection.
2. Age less than 18 years
3. Previous and multiple craniotomies
4. Active infection
5. Craniectomy
6. wound laceration over the craniotomy site.