COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SURGICAL SKIN PREPARATION BY POVIDONE IODINE (10%) AND CHLORHEXIDINE (2%) – ALCOHOL (70%)

Abstract

Background: Surgical Site Infection is a dangerous condition, a heavy burden on the patient and social health system. The use of preoperative skin preparation by effective antiseptic plays an important role in reducing postoperative wound infections.Hence the present study was undertaken to compare and evaluate the efficacy of 2% Chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol versus 5% Povidone Iodine in clean and clean contaminated surgeries for prevention of SSI.

Method: The present one and half year randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, National Institute of medical Sciences and research ,Jaipur, over a period from 1th january 2019 to 30th june 2020 on 150 patients undergoing elective clean and clean contaminated surgeries. The patients were divided into two groups by computer randomization that is Group A (Chlorhexidine group) and Group B (Povidone Iodine group). The surgical wounds were examined for any infections present according to CDCcriteria.

Results: The results of the study showed that the rate of post-operative surgical site infections are less if the pre-operative skin preparation is done with 2% Chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol compared to 5% povidone iodine.

Conclusion: Preoperative skin preparation with 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol is an ideal regime as it has a broader antimicrobial spectrum and the rate of post-operative wound infections is much lower as compared to 5% povidone iodine alone.

Keywords: Antiseptic skin preparation; Chlorhexidine; Clean contaminated; Povidone iodine; Surgical site infections