A prospective comparison between stabilized glutaraldehyde and chlorhexidine gluconate for preoperative skin antisepsis in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of 0.3% stabilized glutaraldehyde and alcohol (SG+A), 0.3% SG and water (SG+W), and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate tincture (CG+A), as skin disinfectants in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.


METHODS
Prospective, blinded clinical study.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-one dogs.


METHODS
Cutaneous bacterial colony forming units (CFU) from the perioperative site after skin preparation, after antisepsis, and after surgery (incisional and paramedian), were quantified. The influence of high initial bacterial counts (> or =150 CFU) and surgical time on antibacterial efficacy was examined and the proportion of dogs from which Staphylococcus intermedius was cultured, determined. Perioperative skin reactions and wound infections were documented.


RESULTS
All 3 antiseptic solutions significantly and equally reduced CFU to all post-antisepsis sampling levels irrespective of surgical duration (mean surgical times 151.6, 136.2, and 149.6 minutes for CG+A, SG+A and SG+W, respectively). Median percentage reductions in CFU ranged between 99.3% and 100%. In dogs with initial high counts and disinfected with CG+A and SG+W, the incisional samples had significantly higher counts than the post-antisepsis samples. In the CG+A and SG+W groups, the proportion of post-surgery samples yielding S. intermedius was significantly higher at the incisional than the paramedian sites. Eight mild cutaneous reactions were recorded in equal proportions for the 3 solutions. There were no recorded infections.


CONCLUSIONS
All 3 preparations had an equal ability to reduce and maintain low CFU counts, with minimal cutaneous reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
SG solutions are safe and effective preoperative skin antiseptics for elective clean-contaminated surgical procedures.
Lambrechts
Nicolaas E
NE
Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
Hurter
Karin
K
Picard
Jackie A
JA
Goldin
Jeremy P
JP
Thompson
Peter N
PN
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D005976:Glutaral