Aquacel AG Surgical trial: reducing wound infections after breast cancer surgery

INTERVENTION: Included patients underwent breast surgery; breast ablative therapy or breast conservative therapy. All procedures were performed or supervised by senior surgeons with a case load of more than 50 per year. After surgery, patients got their allocated wound care: standard wound dressing, consisting of a gauze fixed with adhesive tape, or Aquacel Ag Surgical. Standard wound dressing was changed as often as needed, in patients opinion . Aquacel Ag Surgical was kept in place for 7 days, unless saturated by excessive exudate . After the 10th day of surgery, follow up took place at the outpatient clinic by an independent specialized nurse and the surgeon or surgical resident. The wound was inspected on the presence of infection following CDC criteria and patients filled out a questionnaire on patient satisfaction. Re‐admissions/operations, extra ER /GP/outpatient clinic visits, the occurrence wound infections and use of antibiotics were scored 30 days after surgery during a phone consult. Patient records were checked for deep infections until the 90th day post‐operative. CONDITION: Breast cancer, Surgery, Wound infection ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: Primary outcome of this study was incidence of post‐operative wound infection, following CDC criteria SECONDARY OUTCOME: Secondary outcome measure was patient satisfaction on a 10‐point numerical rating scale, presence of 2 'classic' symptoms of infectionsre‐admissions/operations, infections and use of antibiotics INCLUSION CRITERIA: women of 18 years or older diagnosed with breast cancer, needing ablative or breast conserving surgery written informed consent.