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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Skin and Soft Tissue Infection (SSTI) Prevention in Military Trainees

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01105767
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : April 16, 2010
Results First Posted : November 4, 2014
Last Update Posted : February 3, 2023
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

Brief Summary:
This cluster-randomized prospective study will evaluate the effect of hygiene-based intervention strategies on the incidence of overall SSTI and MRSA-associated SSTI among military trainees. The proposed interventions used singly or in combination include standardized training and education, and weekly chlorhexidine showers.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA Skin Infections Staphylococcal Skin Infections Drug: Chlorhexidine gluconate Other: Supplemental training, education and hygiene Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

MRSA SSTIs have become endemic in congregate community settings where there is frequent close person-to-person contact, such as athletic teams, correctional facilities, and military training facilities. These infections interfere with the mission of training soldiers as they impair soldiers' ability to participate in required activities and successfully complete a training program. Hygiene-based prevention programs (e.g., hand washing, environmental disinfection, and community-based education) appear to be effective in stemming outbreaks of MRSA SSTIs and need to by systematical evaluated.

This cluster-randomized prospective study will evaluate the effect of hygiene-based intervention strategies on the incidence of overall SSTI and MRSA-associated SSTI among military trainees. The study population will be drawn from six training battalions, each consisting of an average of six companies. Each company is composed of four platoons consisting of approximately 50 trainees. Training battalions are the unit of randomization in this study and sub-clusters (platoons within companies) within each battalion will receive the same hygiene-based intervention assigned to that battalion at study start. During the proposed 20-month evaluation period, five cycles of platoons (approximately 14 weeks per cycle) will enter and exit training activities. In total, the study population will be comprised of approximately 36,000 trainees observed over a 20-month period. Each of the six battalions will receive an in-processing preventive medicine briefing augmented with MRSA prevention information based on U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. Additionally, trainees who seek medical care for a SSTI will receive standardized care at a SSTI clinic applying uniform practice guidance. Four of the battalions will also receive supplemental SSTI education for trainees and drill sergeants, including standardized guidance on SSTI surveillance (e.g., skin inspection) for drill sergeants; trainees will be instructed to take a 10 minute shower with soap every Sunday while in garrison; and will be issued a personal first aid kit. Two of these four battalions will be offered chlorhexidine antiseptic body wash to use during the Sunday shower. Endpoints of the evaluation (i.e., incident SSTIs among military trainees) will be captured through clinical record review at the completion of training.

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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 30209 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Prevention
Official Title: Evaluating Strategies to Prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Military Trainees
Study Start Date : May 2010
Actual Primary Completion Date : January 2012
Actual Study Completion Date : January 2012


Arm Intervention/treatment
No Intervention: Group 1 Standard
Trainees received a preventive medicine briefing augmented with SSTI and MRSA SSTI prevention information and personal hygiene instructions. Trainees seeking medical care for an SSTI received standardized SSTI care (e.g., antimicrobial therapy, wound management, patient education) at the Troop Medical Clinic. High-touch common surfaces within the battalion areas were cleaned with standard Environmental Protection Agency-registered disinfectants.
Active Comparator: Group 2 Enhanced Standard
Trainees received the components of the Standard group as well as supplemental training, education and hygiene. They were instructed to take an additional 10-minute shower with soap and a wash cloth every week. They were also issued a first aid kit. Supplemental SSTI education for trainees and drill sergeants was also provided (e.g., pocket cards, posters). Drill sergeants received briefings on SSTI and skin inspection/minor wound care.
Other: Supplemental training, education and hygiene
Supplemental SSTI education for trainees and drill sergeants included pocket cards and posters. Drill sergeants received briefings on SSTI and skin inspection/minor wound care. Trainees were instructed to take an additional 10-minute shower with soap and a wash cloth every week. They were also issued a first aid kit.

Active Comparator: Group 3 Chlorhexidine
Trainees received the components of the Standard and Enhanced Standard groups and were offered chlorhexidine body wash (4% chlorhexidine gluconate, Hibiclens®, Mӧlnlycke Heath Care, Norcross, Georgia) to use with a wash cloth after using their personal soap for the additional once-weekly shower. Trainees were provided with verbal and written/graphic instructions for use.
Drug: Chlorhexidine gluconate
Self applied chlorhexidine body wash (4% chlorhexidine gluconate, Hibiclens®, Mӧlnlycke Heath Care, Norcross, Georgia) once a week to wash/cover the body (except the face and genitalia).

Other: Supplemental training, education and hygiene
Supplemental SSTI education for trainees and drill sergeants included pocket cards and posters. Drill sergeants received briefings on SSTI and skin inspection/minor wound care. Trainees were instructed to take an additional 10-minute shower with soap and a wash cloth every week. They were also issued a first aid kit.




Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Incidence of Skin and Soft Tissue Infection (SSTI) [ Time Frame: At the end of the 20 month study ]
  2. Incidence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)-Associated SSTI [ Time Frame: At the end of the 20 month study ]


Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 42 Years   (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Trainees assigned to one of the six selected training battalions
  • Trainees who present with an SSTI at the clinic or the hospital
  • Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Fails to meet inclusion criteria

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01105767


Locations
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United States, Georgia
Usa Meddac Mach
Columbus, Georgia, United States, 31905
Sponsors and Collaborators
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Michael Ellis, MD Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

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Responsible Party: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01105767    
Other Study ID Numbers: IDCRP-055
First Posted: April 16, 2010    Key Record Dates
Results First Posted: November 4, 2014
Last Update Posted: February 3, 2023
Last Verified: February 2023
Keywords provided by Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine:
Staphylococcus aureus
MRSA Skin Infection
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Chlorhexidine gluconate
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Infections
Communicable Diseases
Staphylococcal Infections
Soft Tissue Infections
Cellulitis
Skin Diseases, Infectious
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Disease Attributes
Pathologic Processes
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial Infections and Mycoses
Suppuration
Connective Tissue Diseases
Inflammation
Skin Diseases
Skin Diseases, Bacterial
Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine gluconate
Anti-Infective Agents, Local
Anti-Infective Agents
Disinfectants
Dermatologic Agents