A laboratory evaluation of a chlorhexidine surgical incise drape
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A laboratory evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy and chlorhexidine skin permeation of a chlorhexidine-impregnated incise drape
IRAS ID
190497
Contact name
TSJ Elliott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
In our laboratory study, we wish to investigate a surgical incise drape (a film applied to the skin during surgical procedures) which is impregnated with chlorhexidine. During this study it may be possible to demonstrate that the chlorhexidine-impregnated incise drape helps reduce skin colonisation with harmful bacteria that may cause infection in patients who have invasive procedures. Furthermore, we wish to investigate the chlorhexidine penetration into the various layers/depths of skin and permeation through the skin. This may be beneficial in the future to patients who require invasive procedures.
We wish to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a chlorhexidine-impregnated surgical incise drape with a human skin model in the laboratory. The skin model enables evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of the incise drape against pathogenic microorganisms in an environment similar to normal human skin.
The laboratory experiments include time-kill assays, with application of the incise drape on the skin contaminated with bacteria. Additionally, the penetration of chlorhexidine from the chlorhexidine-impregnated incise drape will be evaluated in a diffusion cell model, where the drape will be applied onto the skin surface. Following various application times the skin will be cut into thin sections to determine the depth of chlorhexidine skin penetration.
The study is funded by 3M USA and will be undertaken at the Microbiology Research Laboratory at the University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with Aston university and the University of Huddersfield. Human donor skin will be obtained from Tissue Services at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust or a Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licensed tissue bank.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/2104
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion