NCT00136370

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether use of the disinfectant chlorhexidine administered to the birth canal during labour and newborn at delivery can protect a woman and her baby from bacterial infections after birth. If effective, this could be used as an inexpensive alternative to antibiotics to prevent newborn infections in resource-poor countries.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
8,000

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2004

Typical duration for phase_3

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 1, 2004

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 25, 2005

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 29, 2005

Completed
2.2 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 1, 2007

Completed
Last Updated

September 24, 2007

Status Verified

September 1, 2007

First QC Date

August 25, 2005

Last Update Submit

September 21, 2007

Conditions

Keywords

ChlorhexidinePreventionNeonatal sepsisPeripartum infections

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Rates of culture-confirmed or clinical neonatal sepsis, < 3 days of life

  • Rate of vertical transmission of colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS)

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Rates of culture-confirmed or clinical neonatal sepsis (non-nosocomial), 3 to 28 days of life

  • Rates of serious maternal per partum infections including: endometritis, culture-confirmed post-partum sepsis, and post-partum perineal wound infection

  • Rates of neonatal hospitalization, < 3 days of life

  • Rates of neonatal hospitalization, < 28 days of life

  • Rates of neonatal hospitalization, suspected sepsis

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Chlorhexidine Vaginal Wipe

Drug: ChlorhexidineProcedure: Birth canal wipe

2

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Sterile water external genital wipe

Procedure: sterile water external genital wipe

Interventions

Eligibility Criteria

Age15 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Pregnant
  • Plan to deliver at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital or one of its satellite clinics
  • Plan to remain in Soweto for at least two months after delivery
  • Are able to understand and give informed consent
  • Are at least 15 years old at time of registration

You may not qualify if:

  • Planned delivery by caesarean section
  • Antenatal ultrasound revealing major fetal congenital anomalies
  • Have known or suspected condition in which vaginal exams are contraindicated, e.g. placenta previa
  • Have a history of allergic reaction to any topical antiseptic solution
  • Present to labour ward with infant born before arrival
  • Present to labour ward with significant vaginal bleeding during labour
  • Present with known intrauterine fetal death prior to randomization
  • Subject noted to be in full cervical dilatation or have baby's head on perineum
  • Infant noted to be in face presentation on first vaginal examination
  • Noted to have genital ulcers present on first vaginal examination

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa

RECRUITING

Related Publications (11)

  • Christensen KK, Christensen P, Dykes AK, Kahlmeter G. Chlorhexidine for prevention of neonatal colonization with group B streptococci. III. Effect of vaginal washing with chlorhexidine before rupture of the membranes. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1985 Apr;19(4):231-6. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(85)90034-6.

    PMID: 3891445BACKGROUND
  • Taha TE, Biggar RJ, Broadhead RL, Mtimavalye LA, Justesen AB, Liomba GN, Chiphangwi JD, Miotti PG. Effect of cleansing the birth canal with antiseptic solution on maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in Malawi: clinical trial. BMJ. 1997 Jul 26;315(7102):216-9; discussion 220. doi: 10.1136/bmj.315.7102.216.

    PMID: 9253269BACKGROUND
  • Kollee LA, Speyer I, van Kuijck MA, Koopman R, Dony JM, Bakker JH, Wintermans RG. Prevention of group B streptococci transmission during delivery by vaginal application of chlorhexidine gel. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1989 Apr;31(1):47-51. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(89)90025-7.

    PMID: 2653894BACKGROUND
  • Burman LG, Christensen P, Christensen K, Fryklund B, Helgesson AM, Svenningsen NW, Tullus K. Prevention of excess neonatal morbidity associated with group B streptococci by vaginal chlorhexidine disinfection during labour. The Swedish Chlorhexidine Study Group. Lancet. 1992 Jul 11;340(8811):65-9. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)90393-h.

    PMID: 1352011BACKGROUND
  • Adriaanse AH, Kollee LA, Muytjens HL, Nijhuis JG, de Haan AF, Eskes TK. Randomized study of vaginal chlorhexidine disinfection during labor to prevent vertical transmission of group B streptococci. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1995 Aug;61(2):135-41. doi: 10.1016/0301-2115(95)02134-s.

    PMID: 7556834BACKGROUND
  • Rouse DJ, Hauth JC, Andrews WW, Mills BB, Maher JE. Chlorhexidine vaginal irrigation for the prevention of peripartal infection: a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997 Mar;176(3):617-22. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70557-x.

    PMID: 9077616BACKGROUND
  • Stray-Pedersen B, Bergan T, Hafstad A, Normann E, Grogaard J, Vangdal M. Vaginal disinfection with chlorhexidine during childbirth. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999 Aug;12(3):245-51. doi: 10.1016/s0924-8579(99)00068-0.

    PMID: 10461843BACKGROUND
  • Facchinetti F, Piccinini F, Mordini B, Volpe A. Chlorhexidine vaginal flushings versus systemic ampicillin in the prevention of vertical transmission of neonatal group B streptococcus, at term. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2002 Feb;11(2):84-8. doi: 10.1080/jmf.11.2.84.88.

    PMID: 12375548BACKGROUND
  • Cutland CL, Schrag SJ, Zell ER, Kuwanda L, Buchmann E, Velaphi SC, Groome MJ, Adrian PV, Madhi SA; PoPS trial team. Maternal HIV infection and vertical transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Pediatrics. 2012 Sep;130(3):e581-90. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1548. Epub 2012 Aug 6.

  • Schrag SJ, Cutland CL, Zell ER, Kuwanda L, Buchmann EJ, Velaphi SC, Groome MJ, Madhi SA; PoPS Trial Team. Risk factors for neonatal sepsis and perinatal death among infants enrolled in the prevention of perinatal sepsis trial, Soweto, South Africa. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Aug;31(8):821-6. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31825c4b5a.

  • Cutland CL, Madhi SA, Zell ER, Kuwanda L, Laque M, Groome M, Gorwitz R, Thigpen MC, Patel R, Velaphi SC, Adrian P, Klugman K, Schuchat A, Schrag SJ; PoPS Trial Team. Chlorhexidine maternal-vaginal and neonate body wipes in sepsis and vertical transmission of pathogenic bacteria in South Africa: a randomised, controlled trial. Lancet. 2009 Dec 5;374(9705):1909-16. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61339-8. Epub 2009 Oct 19.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Infant, Newborn, DiseasesSepsisPuerperal InfectionNeonatal Sepsis

Interventions

Chlorhexidine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and AbnormalitiesInfectionsSystemic Inflammatory Response SyndromeInflammationPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsPregnancy Complications, InfectiousPregnancy ComplicationsFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesPuerperal Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

BiguanidesGuanidinesAmidinesOrganic Chemicals

Study Officials

  • Stephanie Schrag, DPhil

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Shabir Madhi, MD, PhD

    Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Clare Cutland, BSc, MBBCh

CONTACT

Shabir Madhi, MD, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
FED

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2005

First Posted

August 29, 2005

Study Start

April 1, 2004

Study Completion

November 1, 2007

Last Updated

September 24, 2007

Record last verified: 2007-09

Locations