title: Is skin disinfection with 10% povidone iodine sufficient to prevent epidural needle and catheter contamination?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidural space infection is a potential complication of epidural catheter placement. In this study, we investigated the incidence of epidural needle and catheter contamination after skin surface disinfection with 10% povidone-iodine (PI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty seven patients having surgery under epidural anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective study. After preparation with 10% PI, skin swab cultures were taken from the site of catheter insertion. Epidural needles were cultured immediately after epidural catheters were placed. Catheters were removed at 48 hours and 2 to 3 cm of the distal tips were cultured as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six skin swabs, 52 epidural needles, and 48 catheters were cultured. Although only 3.5% (2) colonization was observed on skin surface cultures, 34.6% (18) of the epidural needles and 45.8% (22) of the catheters were colonized. No systemic or local infection was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that despite skin surface disinfection with PI, there is still significant risk for contamination of needles and catheters during epidural catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. Ayentur@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E Alp
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yentur
authors.forename: Nurettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luleci
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Topcu
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Degerli
authors.forename: Suheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surucuoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology; D002404:Catheterization; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles / Q000382:microbiology; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine