title: Is chlorhexidine-gluconate superior than Povidone-Iodine in preventing surgical site infections? A multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine gluconate scrubs in preventing surgical site infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted from May 2012 to April 2013 in two public-sector hospitals of Pakistan; one each in Karachi and Islamabad. Patients undergoing clean or clean contaminated surgeries were included and were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: group I comprised patients whose skin was preoperatively disinfected using 10% povidone-iodine, and in group II by 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% alcohol. A predesigned proforma was filled for all patients to record demographic data, diagnosis, surgical procedure and antibiotic used. Patients in both groups were followed up for one month postoperatively to monitor any signs of surgical site infections. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 388 patients from the two hospitals, 220(57%) were in group I and 168(43%) were in group II. Surgical site infection was observed in 22(10%) cases in group I and 12(7.1%) in group II (p=0.324). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.5%) was the predominant pathogen associated with surgical site infections followed by Staphylococcus aureus (17.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlorhexidine gluconate was associated with lower infection rates compared to povidone-iodine; but it was not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: MRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi.
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bibi
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Syed Aslam
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Shamim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.affiliation: Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Taranum Ruba
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad.
authors.forename: Iftikhar Ahmed
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Soomro
authors.affiliation: PMRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi.
authors.forename: Waquaruddin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: PMRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi.
authors.forename: Syed Ejaz
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: Povidone-iodine, Chlorhexidine gluconate scrubs, Surgical site infections.