BUGS-IN-IF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective Bacteriology of Surgical Site Infection Following Surgery for Intestinal Failure
IRAS ID
301274
Contact name
Harry Dean
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North West London University Healthcare NHS trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Wound infection is a common complication following surgery on the bowel, which can have detrimental effects to patients as well as significant financial costs to healthcare institutions. Wound infection is particularly common amongst patients having surgery for intestinal failure (40-50%). Traditionally, infection is thought to arise as a result of contamination of the wound by bowel content during the operation. However, new theories suggest that bacteria responsible for these infections can travel to the wound from other sources such as the gums, skin, intravenous lines, bowel and elsewhere.
We want to investigate this by analysing bacteria present at various sites before an operation and comparing them to samples taken from patients wounds after surgery if they develop an infection. By demonstrating patterns in the bacteria that cause infection – it may be possible to either eliminate these bacteria before an operation (decontamination) or to develop targeted interventions to prevent infection from occurring.
St Marks hospital is a world leading centre for the treatment of intestinal failure performing around 150 operations for intestinal failure a year. We plan to invite patients undergoing planned surgery for intestinal failure to participate in the study. Consenting patients will have swabs taken from the nose, mouth, skin, lines, stoma and fistula sites on the day of surgery. These will be cultured and stored in a laboratory at St Marks hospital. Patients will be followed for 30 days following surgery. Those who develop wound infections will have further samples taken at that time which will be processed in an identical manner.
Patients will also be asked to complete several quality of life questionnaires before their operation and at 30 and 90 days after surgery.
We aim to recruit a minimum of 40 patients for this pilot study.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0230
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion