INFECTION AND ALLERGY INCIDENCE IN AMBULATORY SURGERY PATIENTS USING WHITE PETROLATUM VS BACITRACIN OINTMENT - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objective.-To assess the effect of white petrolatum vs bacitracin oint ment on wound infection incidence, allergic contact dermatitis inciden ce, and healing characteristics. Design.-Randomized, double-blind, pro spective trial comparing white petrolatum with bacitracin ointment in postprocedure wound care. Setting.-A general outpatient dermatology cl inic and a tertiary referral advanced surgical procedure clinic at Wai ter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. Patients.-A total of 922 patients who had dermatologic surgery with a total of 1249 wounds. Ma in Outcome Measures.-The incidence of infection and allergic contact d ermatitis during a follow-up period of 4 weeks. Healing characteristic s were secondary outcomes. Results.-Of the 922 patients enrolled, 440 in the white petrolatum group and 444 in the bacitracin group were eva luable for clinical response. The 2 treatment groups had comparable ba seline characteristics. Thirteen patients developed postprocedure infe ction (1.5%), 9 (2.0%) in the white petrolatum group vs 4 (0.9%) in th e bacitracin group (95% confidence interval for difference, -0.4% to 2 .7%; P=.37). Eight infections (1.8%) in the white petrolatum group wer e due to Staphylococcus aureus vs none in the bacitracin group (P=.004 ). No patient in the group using white petrolatum developed allergic c ontact dermatitis vs 4 patients (0.9%) in the group using bacitracin ( P=.12). Additionally, there were no clinically significant differences in healing between the treatment groups on day 1 (P=.98), day 7 (P=.8 5), or day 28 (P=.28) after the procedure. Conclusions.-White petrolat um is a safe, effective wound care ointment for ambulatory surgery, In comparison with bacitracin, white petrolatum possesses an equally low infection rate and minimal risk for induction of allergy.