Antiseptic Skin Preparation Agents to Prevent Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Surgery: A 3-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND:There is much debate surrounding the ideal antiseptic skin preparation agent to reduce postoperative surgical site infection. International guidelines suggest that chlorhexidine-and alcoholcontaining compounds have superior efficacy. However, there are minimal clinical trials specifically looking at skin preparation agents for colorectal surgery. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of chlorhexidine in alcohol versus povidoneiodine in alcohol versus povidone-iodine in aqueous solution for the prevention of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery.