Incidence of SSIs after povidone-iodine vs normal saline intraoperative wound irrigation

Editor's Note

This Japanese study finds that surgical site infections (SSIs) were lower after intraoperative wound irrigation with normal saline than with povidone-iodine.

A total of 941 patients having gastroenterological surgery were randomized to intraoperative wound irrigation for 1 minute before skin closure with 40 mL of aqueous povidone-iodine (study group, 473 patients) or with 100 mL of normal saline (control group, 468 patients).

The incidence of incisional SSIs was 7.6% in the povidone-iodine group and 5.1% in the normal saline group.

The researchers concluded that current recommendations from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for intraoperative wound irrigation with povidone-iodine should be reconsidered.