A clinical evaluation of chlorhexidine gluconate spray as compared with iodophor scrub for preoperative skin preparation.

In a prospective, randomized study, 737 patients who were evaluated had the operative site prepared preoperatively by either a 0.5 per cent chlorhexidine gluconate spray or povidone-iodine scrub. The wound infection rate in these two comparable groups was not statistically different, although slightly favoring the spray technique (6.0 versus 8.1 per cent). The spray technique challenges the conventional preoperative scrub and offers further advantages of increased effectiveness while also offering savings of time and expense.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes