Subcutaneous Tissue Irrigation with Povidone Iodine in Decreasing the Rate of Surgical Site Infection Following Elective Cesarean Section (Randomized Controlled Trial)

Abstract

esarean section remains to be one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide and available data indicate that surgical interventions constitute approximately 0.4%–40.5% of all deliveries. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are reported to occur in up to 8.4% of women having a cesarean section (CS) with many negative effects, including pain, prolonged hospitalization or readmission, need for antibiotics, return to theatre and increasing costs. The usefulness of povidone iodine on intact skin is well established to reduce surgical site infections, but its use as a prophylactic irrigation solution of subcutaneous tissue prior to skin closure is limitedly addressed against surgical site infection. The study included any pregnant female from 20 to 35 years old of gestational age 38 week or older with viable fetus, BMI 20-30 Kg/m2. Patient excluded were those with preoperative haemoglobin less than 10, prolonged rupture of membranes, diabetic, hypertensive or with any medical disorder including autoimmune diseases.