LAUSR

Key Points Question What is the effectiveness of surgical skin preparation with iodophor solutions vs chlorhexidine solutions at reducing 90-day surgical site infections and unplanned fracture-related reoperations within 1 year of injury? Findings This trial master protocol describes 2 multicenter pragmatic cluster randomized crossover trials, Aqueous-PREP (Pragmatic Randomized Trial Evaluating Pre-Operative Aqueous and Antiseptic Skin Solution in Open Fractures) and PREPARE (Pragmatic Randomized Trial Evaluating Pre-Operative Alcohol Skin Solutions in Fractured Extremities), which seek to compare the effectiveness of iodophor and chlorhexidine surgical skin preparation solutions at reducing surgical site infections and unplanned fracture-related reoperations. Meaning Because prophylactic skin antisepsis is used prior to all surgical procedures and the application, cost, and availability of all study solutions are similar, the results are poised to inform clinical guidelines and bring about change in clinical practice.