Application of a topical acne cream 7 days prior to open shoulder surgery may reduce the intraoperative Cutibacterium acnes load in patients, according to study results.
Researchers randomly assigned 60 patients undergoing primary open shoulder surgery to receive either a 7-day preoperative application of a commercial acne cream of a combination of benzoyl peroxide and miconazole nitrate (Acne Creme Plus Widmer, Louis Widmer AG; n=30) or no cream (n=30). Researchers sampled the superficial skin of the shoulder at enrollment and before incision. Researchers also collected deep subcutaneous and