One hundred and fifty-one patients scheduled for an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomized to receive pre-operative skin preparation with a chlorhexidine-alcohol solution plus the use of a 3% hydrogen peroxide gauze (n=74) or chlorhexidine-alcohol solution only (n=77) for the reduction of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) suture contamination. Outcomes of interest included the C. acnes positive culture rate, incidence of infection from other bacteria, and incidence of skin irritation. Patients were clinically assessed for infection at 10 days, 28 days, 3 months and 6 months post-operation. Results revealed no significant differences between groups in the C. acnes positive culture rate (13.0% vs. 6.8%; p=0.2), however this trended in favour of the hydrogen peroxide group. 1 case of Coagulase-negative staphylococcus infection and 1 case of skin irritation were reported in the hydrogen peroxide group.