Comparison of chlorhexidine and tincture of iodine for skin antisepsis in preparation for blood sample collection.
Rates of contamination of blood cultures obtained when skin was prepared with iodine tincture versus chlorhexidine were compared. For iodine tincture, the contamination rate was 2.7%; for chlorhexidine, it was 3.1%. The 0.41% difference is not statistically significant. Chlorhexidine has comparable effectiveness and is safer, cheaper, and preferred by staff, so it is an alternative to iodine tincture.
Barenfanger
Joan
J
Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, Illinois 62781, USA. barenfanger@mhsil.com
Drake
Cheryl
C
Lawhorn
Jerry
J
Verhulst
Steven J
SJ
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000985:Antisepsis / Q000379:methods*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine; D012867:Skin
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D007455:Iodine; D002710:Chlorhexidine