Does vaginal cleansing with iodine decreases infection rate in office hysteroscopy?

To determine whether preoperative vaginal cleansing with iodine-based solution prior to hysteroscopy, reduces postoperative infection rate compared to no vaginal cleansing.

A retrospective study at a single tertiary, university affiliated hospital of all individuals who have had an office hysteroscopy. Study group consisted of patients who have had preoperative vaginal cleansing with iodine-based solution and were compared to those who have not. Any procedural related complaints at the 30 days following the hysteroscopy were recorded.

A total of 505 were available for analysis, 183 in the study group and 322 in the control group. The most common indications for operation were infertility evaluation (33.9% vs. 28.6%) and retained products of conception (33.3% vs. 29.2%), and most common procedures were diagnostic only (49.7% vs. 42.5%) followed by adhesiolysis (12% vs. 14.3%). No statistical differences were noted with regards to postoperative infections, as only one case of pelvic inflammatory disease was noted, in the iodine cleansing group (0.19% for postoperative infection).

Our comparative study may suggest that the use of preoperative iodine solution prior to office hysteroscopy does not decrease the postoperative infection rate up to 30 days, thus can be avoided.