Clinical Evaluation of Preoperativen Skin Preparation with Aqueous Povidone Iodine and in Combination with Alcoholic Chlorhexidine in Patients Undergoing Clean Elective Surgery

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the aqueous povidone iodine VS alcoholic chlorhexidine in patients undergoing clean elective surgeries. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery Santosh Medical College & Hospital, Ghaziabad on 73 patients in each groups. Results: Mean age of group I patients was 48.95±16.69 years and group II patients was 50.21±16.97 years. Out of 350 patients, 57.7% patients had age of 38-57 years followed by 18-37 years (16.6%), 58-77 years (14%), and >77 years (11.7%). 60% patients in group I and 55.4% patients in group II belonged to 38-57 years of age. Out of 350 patients, 39.7% were females and 60.3% were males. In group I, 57.7% were males and 42.3% were females. In group II, 62.9% were males and 37.1% were females. Mean BMI of group I patients was 30.03±2.79 and group II patients was 29.82±2.42. Majority of the patients belonged to BMI group of ≥30 in group I (57.7%) as well as group II (56%). 56.9% patients had BMI more than or equal to 30, 34.9% had 25-29.9, and 8.3% had 18.5-24. This difference was not statistically significant. Out of 350 patients, 75.4% had no pre-operative growth, 12% had Staphylococcus aureus, 5.4% had E. coli, 4.3% had Staphylococcus albus, and 2.9% had Klebsiella species. Conclusion: The findings concluded that antisepsis with chlorhexidine gluconate 2.5% v/v in 70% propanol significantly reduced the risk of postoperative SSI’s and colonization of bacteria in clean contaminated elective surgeries compared to povidone iodine IP 5% w/v. iodine which is being used as the conventional preoperative skin cleansing agent for surgeries in our hospital. Regarding the cost add chlorhexidine is costly as it is providing better result with decrease rate of SSI, it proves to be a better antiseptic in terms of post-operative sepsis and recovery.