TITLE:
Antiseptic Skin Preparation for Preventing Surgical Site Infection at Caesarean Section
AUTHORS:
Olufemi Aworinde, Kehinde Olufemi-Aworinde, Akintunde Fehintola, Babalola Adeyemi, Musliudin Owonikoko, Adewale Samson Adeyemi
KEYWORDS:
Antisepsis, Infection, Chlorhexidine, Povidone Iodine, Caesarean Section
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.6 No.4,
March
23,
2016
ABSTRACT: Purpose: To compare the effect of chlorhexidine-alcohol and povidone
iodine on surgical site infection (SSI) after caesarean section. Methodology: A
randomized control trial of 374 patients (188 in the chlorhexidine-alcohol
group and 186 in the povidone iodine group) who had elective caesarean section
with no overt risk for SSI was done. Patients were followed up until thirty
days after delivery to assess for symptoms and signs of SSI. Results: Fifty-one
(13.6%) of the study population developed SSI. Although the incidence of SSI
was lower in the chlorhexidine-alcohol group than the povidone iodine group
(12.2% vs. 15.1%; p = 0.26); the difference was not statistically significant.
The incidence of adverse skin reaction in Chlorhexidine-alcohol vs. povidone
iodine was also not statistically significant (4.0% vs. 5.4%; p = 0.40).
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that there was no statistically significant
difference in antiseptic property and side effect profile of
chlorhexidine-alcohol and povidone-iodine when used as skin antisepsis in caesarean
section.