Comparison of Surgical Wound Infection after Preoperative Skin Preparation with 4% Chlohexidine and Povidone Iodine: A Prospective Randomized Trial
Veeraya Paocharoen MD*, Chatchai Mingmalairak MD*, Anucha Apisarnthanarak MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Infectious Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Antiseptic scrub and paint can reduce bacterial colonization and postoperative wound
infection. Two forms of antiseptics, povidone iodine and chlorhexidine, are commonly used in the operating
theater.
Objective : To study the efficacy of the reduction of bacterial colonization and surgical wound infection among
these antiseptic.
Material and Method: Five hundred surgical patients were randomly divided into two groups. Povidone
Iodine and Chlorhexidine were used for skin preparation in group 1 and 2 respectively. Bacterial colonization
and postoperative wound infection were examined after skin preparation. Demographic data was analyzed by
student’s t test; the culture result and surgical wound infection were analyzed by Mantel-Haenszel method for
relative risk and 95% CI.
Results : There was a significant reduction of bacterial colonization and wound infection after skin preparation
in group 2 compared with group 1.
Conclusion : Colonization of bacterial and postoperative surgical wound infection were significantly reduced
in the chlorhexidine group. Chlorhexidine antiseptic should be the first consideration for preoperative skin
preparation.
Keywords : Chlorhexidine, Povidone-iodine, Skin, Surgical wound infection
