Simple wound wash could slash surgery infections, major trial hints
NCT ID NCT04548661
First seen Jan 03, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 29 times
Summary
This study tested whether washing surgical incisions with an antiseptic (povidone-iodine) or salt water before closing them can prevent infections. Over 2,700 adults having abdominal or groin surgery were randomly assigned to one of three groups: irrigation with povidone-iodine, irrigation with saline, or no irrigation. The main goal was to see if either irrigation method reduced surgical site infections within 30 days. If effective, this simple step could become a standard practice worldwide.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for SURGICAL SITE INFECTION are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Locations
-
Hamilton Health Sciences - Juravinski Hospital
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
-
Health Sciences North
Greater Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 5J1, Canada
-
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
-
London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario, Canada
-
Mackenzie Health
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
-
North York General Hospital
North York, Ontario, M2K 1E1, Canada
-
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
-
Shared Health Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3A 1R9, Canada
-
St. Joseph's Health Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
-
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
-
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
-
The Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6, Canada
-
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
povidone-iodine solution
What this could lead to
If it works, this simple, low-cost step could become standard practice to prevent surgical site infections, benefiting millions of patients.
What could go wrong
The trial is completed but results are not yet widely known. The effect may be small or not apply to all surgeries. Infection rates depend on many factors.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.