Heart surgery antibiotic duration under scrutiny: could one dose be enough?

NCT ID NCT05447559

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Monash University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study compares giving antibiotics only during heart surgery versus continuing for 24 or 48 hours afterward, to see if shorter use is just as good at preventing surgical site infections. Over 9,000 adults having heart surgery through a breastbone incision will take part. The goal is to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, which can cause side effects and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: cefazolin
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that a single dose of antibiotic during surgery is enough to prevent infections, reducing side effects and antibiotic resistance.
What could go wrong: This is a large trial, but it's testing a non-inferiority approach—meaning it aims to prove shorter treatment is not worse. There is a risk that shorter treatment may lead to more infections in some patients.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Surgical Wound Infection

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SURGICAL SITE INFECTION

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Austin Health
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3084, Australia
Cabrini Health
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3144, Australia

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Christchurch Hospital
RECRUITING

Christchurch, New Zealand
Epworth HealthCare
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3121, Australia
Fiona Stanley Hospital
RECRUITING

Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Flinders Medical Centre
RECRUITING

Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia
Flinders Private
RECRUITING

Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia
Halifax Infirmary
RECRUITING

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
IJN
RECRUITING

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Princess Alexandra Hospital
RECRUITING

Brisbane, Queensland, 4102, Australia
Royal Adelaide Hospital
RECRUITING

Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Royal Hobart Hospital
RECRUITING

Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Sir Charles Gairdner
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
St George Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Sydney, New South Wales, 2217, Australia
St John of God Subiaco Hospital
RECRUITING

Perth, Western Australia, 6008, Australia
St Vincent's Hospital
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Australia
The Alfred Hospital
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
The Prince Charles Hospital
RECRUITING

Brisbane, Queensland, 4032, Australia
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3050, Australia

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UMMC
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
UT Southwestern Medical Centre
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
Victorian Heart Hospital
RECRUITING

Melbourne, Victoria, 3168, Australia
Waikato Hospital
RECRUITING

Hamilton, 3204, New Zealand
Wakefield Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington Hospital
RECRUITING

Wellington, New Zealand
Westmead Hospital
RECRUITING

Sydney, New South Wales, 2145, Australia

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