Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
A Novel High-Throughput Ex Vivo Ovine Skin Wound Model for Testing Emerging Antibiotics
Published on: September 16, 2022
Is there a difference between two different skin disinfection methods in cardiac surgery in terms of isolated
Murat Günday1, Atilla Orhan2, Hale Turan3
1Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery, Baskent University Konya Training and Research Center, Konya, Turkey. gundaymurat@yahoo.com.
Introduction:
In this study, our aim was to prospectively compare the different methods of patient disinfections with scrubbing + iodine + alcohol, and the povidone iodine disinfection method, which can be described as classical, in terms of the pathogens isolated on skin and during early postoperative complications.
Methodology:
Eighty patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass operation were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 48) patients who underwent scrub, iodine, followed by skin disinfection with alcohol, and group 2 (n = 32) who were treated with povidone iodine three times. The samples were immediately sent to the microbiology laboratory. Specimens from the wounds were incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques.
Results:
In samples taken after disinfection in group 1, significantly less reproduction was observed compared to group 2 (p = 0.001). There was no difference in postoperative complications between the two groups except for pleural effusion (p = 0.040). S. epidermidis was the most frequently isolated pathogen in both groups.
Conclusion:
We did not find a study which compares scrub + alcohol + iodine and povidone iodine in our literature review. We think that our study is original in this respect. We can conclude that skin disinfection with scrub + alcohol + iodine was superior to using only povidone iodine in terms of the pathogens isolated afterwards from the wound.
Insights
Scrub, iodine, and alcohol skin disinfection was more effective than povidone iodine alone in reducing bacterial contamination after coronary artery bypass surgery. This method showed superior pathogen reduction on the skin.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Site Infection Prevention
- Microbiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Patient skin disinfection is crucial for preventing surgical site infections.
- Classical disinfection methods include povidone iodine, while newer combinations are being explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively compare the efficacy of scrub + iodine + alcohol versus povidone iodine for patient skin disinfection.
- To evaluate the impact of these disinfection methods on skin pathogens and early postoperative complications.
Main Methods:
- Eighty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were divided into two groups.
- Group 1 received scrub, iodine, and alcohol; Group 2 received povidone iodine.
- Skin and wound cultures were analyzed for bacterial isolates.
Main Results:
- Significantly less bacterial reproduction was observed in the scrub + iodine + alcohol group compared to the povidone iodine group (p = 0.001).
- Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common pathogen isolated in both groups.
- No significant difference in overall postoperative complications, except for a higher incidence of pleural effusion in the povidone iodine group (p = 0.040).
Conclusions:
- Skin disinfection with scrub + iodine + alcohol is superior to povidone iodine alone in reducing bacterial isolates from the skin.
- This study provides novel comparative data on these disinfection protocols.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
01:23Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
01:29Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
01:30Methods of Sterilization II: Chemical Methods
Using chemical sterilization rather than heat to clean out equipment is recommended. It eradicates and removes all bacteria,...
01:26Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration
01:28Asepsis