A Study of an Antibiotic Implant in General Surgical Subjects at Higher Risk for Surgical Wound Infection

Inclusion Criteria:

• Scheduled to undergo nonemergent colon and/or rectal surgical procedures involving alaparotomy incision of at least 7 cm in length or greater. List of eligibleprocedures: Left Hemicolectomy, Transverse Colectomy, Segmental/Sleeve Left ColonResection, Total Abdominal Colectomy With Ileorectal Anastomosis, Total AbdominalColectomy With Ileostomy, Total Abdominal Proctocolectomy (Portion Of Specimen To BeExtracted Via Laparotomy), Low Anterior Resection, Sigmoid Resection, Non-EmergentHartmann's Procedure, Colotomy With Polypectomy Distal To Hepatic Flexure, ColostomyTakedown Through Laparotomy (Not Peristomal) Incision, Ileo-Pouch Anal Anastomosis,Abdominal Perineal Resection of the Rectum
• Have the capacity to understand and sign an informed consent form.
• Are male or female and > 18 years of age.
• If female, be postmenopausal (no menstrual period for a minimum of 1 year), orsurgically sterilized (does not have a uterus or has had bilateral tubal ligation).Females of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test on entryin the study, and agree to use adequate birth control during the study and for 60 daysafter the administration of study agent.
• Agree to be available for evaluation from baseline until final evaluation at 60 dayspostsurgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known history of hypersensitivity to gentamicin or bovine collagen.
• Undergoing emergency surgery (urgent surgery is allowed if informed consent isobtained and the study procedures can be performed). Emergency surgery includes caseswhere standard bowel preparation and other preoperative assessments cannot be done.
• Undergoing a significant concomitant surgical procedure (e.g., hysterectomy). Thefollowing concomitant procedures are allowed: appendectomy, cholecystectomy,oophorectomy, liver biopsy/wedge resection (but not liver resection).
• Undergoing a laparoscopic, laparoscopic-assisted, or other minimally invasive surgicalapproach involving a laparotomy incision less than 7 cm.
• History of prior laparotomy within the last 60 days of this planned procedure.
• Planned to undergo a second laparotomy or colorectal surgical procedure (e.g.colostomy or ileostomy takedown) within 60 days of this planned first procedure.
• Evidence preoperatively of any of the following: sepsis, severe sepsis, or septicshock (note that SIRS alone is not an exclusion criterion)
• Current abdominal wall infection/surgical site infection from previouslaparotomy/laparoscopy or for any reason.
• Receiving antibiotic therapy within the 1 week prior to the date of surgery.
• Preoperative evaluation suggests intra-abdominal process that might preclude fullclosure of the skin.
• History of ongoing treatment (e.g. chemotherapy, radiation) for non-colorectal cancer.
• Recent history of significant drug or alcohol abuse.
• Preoperative prothrombin time (PT) > 1.5 times upper limit of normal
• Pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing potential not practicing a birth controlmethod with a high degree of reliability
• Postsurgical life expectancy ≤ 60 days, in the investigator's or sponsor's opinion.
• Refusal to accept medically indicated blood products.
• Previous participation in this or any other active Innocoll Gentamicin-Collagen Spongestudy.
• Participation within 30 days before the start of this study in any experimental drugor device study, or currently participating in a study in which the administration ofinvestigational drug or device within 60 days is anticipated.
• Surgeon does not believe that it will be possible to insert 2 sponges above the fasciain the patient (e.g. in a very thin patient planned to have a small incision)
• Patients with anterior abdominal wall mesh that is not planned to be completelyremoved during the planned procedure.
• Presence of prosthetic cardiac valve.