Researchers analyzed the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website, Cochrane Library, Medline and EMBASE. Through the meta-analysis, researchers identified nine randomized controlled trials that included more than 3,000 patients.
According to the abstract, switching from iodine to chlorhexidine netted a cost savings of $16-26 per surgical case for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, chlorhexidine antisepsis was linked to a significantly lower number of surgical site infections and positive skin culture results. Researchers concluded that preoperative skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine is more effective than with iodine for preventing surgical site infection and reaping greater cost savings.
Read the Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology‘s article on the chlorhexidine and iodine comparison.
Read other coverage about infection control studies:
– Researchers Identify Major Barriers to Adherence to Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines
– Study: Hands-Free Zone Technique, Double Gloving Helps Prevent Transmissible Infection
– Researchers Assess Whether ICD-9 Infection Codes are Predictors of Surgical Site Infections
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