Background: Surgical Site Infections are the third most commonly reported nosocomial infections all over the world¹. Patient's skin is a major source of pathogens that cause Surgical Site Infection. Povidone-Iodine (5%) is being used for preoperative skin preparation in surgeries since 1955 and is preferred universally. But it fails to control surgical site infection which is a major post operative complication.. Chlorhexidine alcohol has been widely used as an oral antiseptic solution and its efficacy has been recently made it as an antiseptic and disinfectant². This study compares the efficacy of Chlorhexidine-Gluconate (2.5%v/v) & Isopropyl Alcohol (63%) to Povidone-Iodine (5%) in preventing surgical site infections in elective midline laparotomy surgeries.

Aim of Study: To compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine alcohol versus povidone iodine for pre-operative skin preparation in preventing surgical site infection in elective midline laparotomies.

Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients were taken for this study.  100 patients underwent draping with chlorhexidine alcohol (Group A) who were compared with 100 patients who underwent draping with povidone iodine (Group B). Variables used in this study are wound infection and ASEPSIS score.

Results: In the povidone-iodine group 14 (14%) patients had wound infection and in the chlorhexidine alcohol group 10(10%) patients had wound infection. Even though SSI is lower in chlorhexidine group, the difference was not statistically significant (p value 0.384).

Conclusion: There is no significant difference between chlorhexidine alcohol and povidone iodine in preventing surgical site infection in elective midline laparotomy surgeries.

Keywords: Chlorhexidine Alcohol, Povidone Iodine, ASEPSIS score.

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Sheena Krishnan

Department of Microbiology,

Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India

Mobile Number: +919847193171, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.