COMPARISON OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION RATE BETWEEN ANTIBACTERIAL COATED SURGICAL SUTURE AND CONVENTIONAL SUTURE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED SINGLE CENTRE STUDY FOR PREVENTIVE MEASURE OF POSTOPERATIVE INFECTION

The main objective of this study is to compare the reduction rate of surgical site infection (SSI) between Triclosan coated (TC) and conventional surgical (CS) suture postoperatively. Surgical site infection (SSI) can be presented as a major challenge for people in the sense of mortality and morbidity mostly in developing countries. The result of SSI with antibacterial suture in developed countries have been already reported; however, these interventions have been studied very little in those developing and underdeveloped countries where lifestyle and the hospital facility plays a major role in infection. A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted at Civil Hospital Aizawl, Mizoram, India. A total of 110 patients were recruited for the study with a 1:1 ratio in both TC and CS. Superficial SSI was assessed as primary outcomes according to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines until 30 days. Secondary outcomes also measured for 1^st and 3^rd days of surgery. Sutures were tested in laboratory condition for their antibacterial activity before use in surgery. Zone of inhibition (mm), 5.67 ± 0.2, 5.25 ± 0.25 and 4.75 ± 0.25 (Mean ± SEM) against E. coli, B. Subtilis, and P. aeruginosa with TC and no inhibition were observed with CS respectively. The clinical study shows 5 infections in CS and zeroes infection in TC after 1^st, 3rd, and 30 days observations. The studies confirm the antibacterial efficacy of TC and also reduce the infection rate in the patient.