Evaluation of Emerging New Treatments for Infection Prevention in Total Joint Replacement

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.

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).

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.