povidone-iodine and triclocarban

In a prospective, controlled, clinical trial, we found that preoperative showering and scrubbing with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate was more effective than povidone-iodine or triclocarban medicated soap in reducing skin colonization at the site of surgical incision. Mean log colony counts of the incision site were one half to one log lower for patients who showered with chlorhexidine compared to those who showered with the other regimens. No growth was observed on 43% of the post shower skin cultures from patients in the chlorhexidine group compared with 16% of the cultures from patients who had povidone-iodine showers and 5% of those from patients who used medicated soap and water. The frequency of positive intraoperative wound cultures was 4% with chlorhexidine, 9% with povidone-iodine and 14% with medicated soap and water. This study demonstrates that chlorhexidine gluconate is a more effective skin disinfectant than either povidone-iodine or triclocarban soap and water and that its use is associated with lower rates of intraoperative wound contamination.

Topics: Baths; Carbanilides; Chlorhexidine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hand Disinfection; Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Male; Povidone-Iodine; Preoperative Care; Prospective Studies; Skin; Surgical Wound Infection; Wounds and Injuries

Male patients with spinal cord injury are frequently colonized with P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae on the perineum. Regular bathing with bar soap has not influenced this colonization. We have attempted to remove these bacteria using antiseptic agents. The number of P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and total aerobic bacteria on the perineum and the penile shaft was determined before and after cleaning with bar soap, chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine and pHresh. Povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine had no advantage over bar soap or pHresh in the removal of P. aeruginosa or K. pneumoniae from the perineum of patients with spinal cord injury.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Carbanilides; Chlorhexidine; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Male; Middle Aged; Penis; Perineum; Povidone-Iodine; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Random Allocation; Soaps; Spinal Cord Injuries