Year: 2026 | Month: March | Volume: 13 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 111-118
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260314
Povidone-Iodine versus Chlorhexidine-Alcohol Skin Preparation for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection after Caesarean Delivery in a Tertiary Medical Centre, South West, Nigeria
Olorunfemi Oludele Owa1, Olufemi Damilola Dedeigbo1,2, Adeyinka Joseph Aiyeyemi1, Richard Rotimi Ehinmitan1, Bamidele Adeleye3, Toba Ajagu4
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Nigeria.
2Department of Pharmacology, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria.
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Corresponding Author: Dr. Olorunfemi Oludele Owa
ABSTRACT
Background: Surgical site infection is a major contributor to the increasing morbidity and mortality with caesarean section as compared to vaginal delivery. The incidence of surgical site infection following caesarean section is higher in developing countries. Prevention of surgical site infection with good skin antiseptic preparation before surgery is therefore a crucial part of care.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of chlorhexidine alcohol and povidone iodine in preventing surgical site infection following emergency caesarean section.
Methods: The study is interventional, non-blinded, randomized study conducted at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Nigeria. One hundred and eight (108) eligible women, who had emergency caesarean section were recruited into the study, fifty-four (54) in each arm. One group received chlorhexidine alcohol as the skin antiseptic before operation while the other arm received povidone iodine. Both groups were followed for 30 days and assessed for surgical site infection. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 21.
Results: The mean age of women in the study was 29 years (SD 6.5) and majority of the participants were artisans constituting 58.7%. No statistical difference in the rate of skin reaction to the two skin antiseptics (P = 0.591). Even though the incidence of SSI in the povidone group was less than in the chlorhexidine group (9.4% vs. 17.6%), this finding was not statistically significant (P = 0.477). The surgical site infection rate in this study was 13.5%.
Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in the effect of chlorhexidine alcohol and povidone iodine antiseptic skin preparation on the rate of surgical site infections following emergency caesarean section in 3Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Nigeria.
Keywords: Surgical site infection, Caesarean section, Skin reaction, Antiseptic skin preparation
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