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TerminatedNCT03560232Updated Sep 11, 2020

Noninferiority Comparison of Prophylactic Open Fracture Antimicrobial Regimens

A Phase 4 interventional study of Ceftriaxone and Ampicillin/sulbactam in Open Fracture and Post-Op Wound Infection, sponsored by Mercy Health Ohio. Terminated at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-09-11.

Sponsored by Mercy Health Ohio · Phase 4, Interventional, and Prevention

Why this study was terminated
Unable to recruit patients in a timely fashion and unable to recruit sufficient patients

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Feb 2020, 6 years 8 months ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
17
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To demonstrate noninferiority of three different empiric antimicrobial regimens compared to the traditional antimicrobial regimen for the management of grade III open fractures as well as evaluate outcomes among these groups.

Read the detailed description

Per the EAST practice management guidelines, an open fracture is defined as one in which the fracture fragments communicate with the environment through a break in the skin. The presence of an open fracture, either isolated or as part of a multiple injury complex, increases the risk of infection and soft tissue complications. Open fractures are further classified into Grade I - Grade III fractures per the Gustilo Classification. Grade III fractures are those with the highest likelihood of contamination and infection with infection rates ranging from 10% to 42%.

EAST guidelines currently recommend systemic gram positive coverage for all open fractures with the addition of gram negative coverage for all Grade III fractures. Antibiotics should be initiated as soon as possible following the injury and should be continued for 72 hours after the injury or not greater than 24 hours after soft tissue coverage was obtained. Traditionally, patients received the combination of Cefazolin and Gentamicin as the preferred prophylactic antibiotic regimen, despite the need for multiple antibiotics and the risk of nephrotoxicity associated with aminoglycosides. Whether there is clinically a more ideal prophylactic antibiotic available remains to be seen. This proposed research initiative is intended to evaluate several antibiotic regimens with similar spectrums of activity to see if there is an equally effective single agent with minimal nephrotoxicity associated with its use. In selecting the study antibiotics to be utilized in the protocol, available information was obtained regarding timing of antibiotics, organisms identified by culture results, and any studies available on specific antibiotic regimens. In regards to timing, there is evidence to support that time to antibiotics and time to the operating room may be more important than the particular antibiotic itself. Additionally, a recent study from 2015 looked at the organisms identified from culture results for Grade I through Grade III fractures in Germany. The vast majority of cultures obtained were gram positive organisms, even in the Grade III fractures, and included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus capitis, various Streptococcus species, Enterococcus faecium and Corynebacterium. Interestingly, the only gram negative organism identified in the study was Escherichia coli. Lastly, when trying to identify antibiotic specific studies, a recent study was identified looking at Ceftriaxone as the agent of choice, while limiting the use of vancomycin and aminoglycosides. The conclusion of the study showed a significant decrease in vancomycin and aminoglycosides administered with no increase in infection rates.

Here at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, the investigator's current trauma and orthopedics practice management guideline has been reviewed and changed multiple times in the past several years. For the vast majority of time, the recommendation has been to use the traditional cefazolin/gentamicin combination. However, several cases of nephrotoxicity led to some hesitation in utilizing this regimen. Therefore, for a short time period, piperacillin/tazobactam was being used for all Grade III fractures instead. At present however, due to conflicting concerns regarding antimicrobial stewardship with utilizing broad spectrum piperacillin/tazobactam with the nephrotoxicity concerns of gentamicin, the approved guideline utilizes cefazolin/gentamicin for patients under 65 years of age and piperacillin/tazobactam for all patients greater than or equal to 65 years of age. This study aims to evaluate non-inferiority of ampicillin/sulbactam, ceftriaxone, and piperacillin/tazobactam when compared to the traditional regimen of cefazolin/gentamicin for grade III open fractures.

02

Conditions studied

  • Open Fracture
  • Post-Op Wound Infection

Keywords

  • Open Fracture
  • Wound Infection
  • Antimicrobial Prophylaxis
  • Cefazolin
  • Gentamicin
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Ampicillin/Sulbactam
  • Clindamycin
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam
03

In context

Fractures, Open

53 studies on the registry are indexed under Fractures, Open; 14 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 17 is below the median of 90 across 40 interventional studies indexed under Fractures, Open.

Browse Fractures, Open studies →

Lead sponsor

Mercy Health Ohio is the lead sponsor of 15 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age great than/equal to 18 years
  • Diagnosis of Grade III open fracture

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Water-borne injury
  • Farm-related injury
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
17 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Cefazolin + Gentamicin

    \[Cefazolin\] Initial dose: * Cefazolin 2g IV x1 dose (patient weight \< 120kg) * Cefazolin 3g IV x1 dose (patient weight \>/= 120kg) Subsequent dose: * Cefazolin 2g IV every 8 hrs (CrCl \>/= 40 mL/min) * Cefazolin 2g IV every 12 hrs (CrCl 20-39 mL/min) * Cefazolin 2g IV every 24 hrs (CrCl \< 20 mL/min) Duration: * 24 hrs post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hrs, whichever comes first \[Gentamicin\] Initial dose: * If Patient age \</= 80 years old: 5 mg/kg adjusted body weight x1 dose (Max dose 500 mg) * If Patient age \>80 years old: 3 mg/kg adjusted body weight x1 dose (Max dose 300 mg) Subsequent dose: * Pharmacy Consult to dose gentamicin Duration: * 24 hrs post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hrs, whichever comes first

    Drug: Cefazolin + Gentamicin

  • Active comparator
    Ceftriaxone

    Initial dose: * Ceftriaxone 2g IV x1 dose Subsequent dose: * Ceftriaxone 2g IV every 24 hours Duration: * One dose post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hours, whichever comes first

    Drug: Ceftriaxone

  • Active comparator
    Ampicillin/Sulbactam

    Initial dose: * Ampicillin/Sulbactam 3g IV x1 dose Subsequent dose: * Ampicillin/Sulbactam 3g IV every 6 hours (CrCl \>/= 30 mL/min) * Ampicillin/Sulbactam 3g IV every 12 hours (CrCl 15-29 mL/min) * Ampicillin/Sulbactam 3g IV every 24 hours (CrCl \<15 mL/min) Duration: * 24 hours post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hours, whichever comes first

    Drug: Ampicillin/sulbactam

  • Active comparator
    Piperacillin/Tazobactam

    Initial dose: * Piperacillin/Tazobactam 4.5g IV x1 dose over 30 minutes Subsequent dose: * Piperacillin/Tazobactam 3.375g IV every 8 hours over 4 hours (CrCl \>/= 20 mL/min) * Piperacillin/Tazobactam 3.375g IV every 12 hours over 4 hours (CrCl \< 20 mL/min) Duration: * 24 hours post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hours, whichever comes first

    Drug: Piperacillin/tazobactam

  • Other
    Clindamycin + Gentamicin

    Patients with known Penicillin allergy will receive: \[Clindamycin\] Initial dose: * Clindamycin 900mg IV x1 dose Subsequent dose: * Clindamycin 600mg IV every 8 hours Duration: * 24 hours post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hours, whichever comes first \[Gentamicin\] Initial dose: * If Patient age \</= 80 years old: 5 mg/kg adjusted body weight x1 dose (Max dose 500 mg) * If Patient age \>80 years old: 3 mg/kg adjusted body weight x1 dose (Max dose 300 mg) Subsequent dose: * Pharmacy Consult to dose gentamicin Duration: * 24 hours post-op after soft tissue coverage or total of 72 hours, whichever comes first

    Drug: Clindamycin + Gentamicin

Interventions

  • See arm description

    Also known as: Rocephin

  • DrugAmpicillin/sulbactam

    Drug pages: Ampicillin · Sulbactam

    See arm description

    Also known as: Unasyn

  • DrugPiperacillin/tazobactam

    See arm description

    Also known as: Zosyn

  • DrugCefazolin + Gentamicin

    Drug pages: Cefazolin · Gentamicins

    See arm description

    Also known as: Ancef + Garamycin

  • DrugClindamycin + Gentamicin

    Drug pages: Clindamycin · Gentamicins

    See arm description

    Also known as: Cleocin + Garamycin

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Post-surgical site wound infections

    The primary outcome for this study is the number of post-surgical site wound infections, defined as initiation of antibiotics for surgical-site infection and/or need for surgical debridement of site. The acceptable infection rate per Trauma Practice Management Guidelines states a rate less than 20%.

    Time frame: 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of acute kidney injury

    Incidence of acute kidney injury during hospital admission will be collected and compared to the other antibiotic regimens. Acute kidney injury is defined as (per KDIGO guidelines): * An increase in SCr by 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours OR * Increase in SCr to 1.5 times baseline within the previous 7 days OR * Urine volume less than 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 hours

    Time frame: Hospital admission

  2. Average cost of antibiotic therapy per patient

    Cost per patient of each antibiotic therapy will be calculated and compared to the other antibiotic regimens

    Time frame: Hospital admission

  3. Time to antibiotic therapy

    Time from arrival to receiving first dose of antibiotic therapy will be collected (Goal within 30 minutes of arrival).

    Time frame: Hospital admission

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • St. Joseph Warren Hospital
    Warren, Ohio 44484, United States
  • St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital
    Youngstown, Ohio 44501, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Gustilo RB, Mendoza RM, Williams DN. Problems in the management of type III (severe) open fractures: a new classification of type III open fractures. J Trauma. 1984 Aug;24(8):742-6. doi: 10.1097/00005373-198408000-00009. PubMed 6471139 ↗
  • Hoff WS, Bonadies JA, Cachecho R, Dorlac WC. East Practice Management Guidelines Work Group: update to practice management guidelines for prophylactic antibiotic use in open fractures. J Trauma. 2011 Mar;70(3):751-4. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31820930e5. No abstract available. PubMed 21610369 ↗
  • Lack WD, Karunakar MA, Angerame MR, Seymour RB, Sims S, Kellam JF, Bosse MJ. Type III open tibia fractures: immediate antibiotic prophylaxis minimizes infection. J Orthop Trauma. 2015 Jan;29(1):1-6. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000262. Erratum In: J Orthop Trauma. 2015 Jun;29(6):e213. PubMed 25526095 ↗
  • Otchwemah R, Grams V, Tjardes T, Shafizadeh S, Bathis H, Maegele M, Messler S, Bouillon B, Probst C. Bacterial contamination of open fractures - pathogens, antibiotic resistances and therapeutic regimes in four hospitals of the trauma network Cologne, Germany. Injury. 2015 Oct;46 Suppl 4:S104-8. doi: 10.1016/S0020-1383(15)30027-9. PubMed 26542854 ↗
  • Rodriguez L, Jung HS, Goulet JA, Cicalo A, Machado-Aranda DA, Napolitano LM. Evidence-based protocol for prophylactic antibiotics in open fractures: improved antibiotic stewardship with no increase in infection rates. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2014 Sep;77(3):400-7; discussion 407-8; quiz 524. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000000398. PubMed 25159242 ↗
  • Lenarz CJ, Watson JT, Moed BR, Israel H, Mullen JD, Macdonald JB. Timing of wound closure in open fractures based on cultures obtained after debridement. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Aug 18;92(10):1921-6. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.I.00547. Epub 2010 Jul 21. PubMed 20660225 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 11, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03560232
Lead sponsor
Mercy Health Ohio
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 18, 2018
Start date
Jul 9, 2018
Primary completion
Feb 19, 2020
Completion
Feb 19, 2020
Last update
Sep 11, 2020

Study contacts

Natalie I Rine, PharmD
study chair · MercyHealth Youngstown
Paul T Miller, PharmD
study chair · MercyHealth Youngstown
Tyson T Schrickel, MD
study chair · MercyHealth Youngstown
Stuart Drew, DO
study chair · MercyHealth Youngstown
David J Gemmel, PhD
study chair · MercyHealth Youngstown
Chad W Donley, MD
principal investigator · MercyHealth Youngstown
Allison R Lauver, PharmD
study chair · MercyHealth Youngstown

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drugs tested here: Ceftriaxone · Ampicillin · Sulbactam · Cefazolin · Gentamicins · Clindamycin

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