Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine and Povidone Iodine in Preventing Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) in C-Section Deliveries

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Chlorhexidine and Povidone iodine in preventing SSIs in C-section deliveries. Methodology: The study was conducted at a medical university and hospital in Karachi, from January 2021 July 2021. A non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used to select 35 participants. The study included women aged 18 to 45 years. The efficacy of Chlorhexidine and Povidone iodine in preventing SSIs was evaluated. Two groups were randomly assigned, with Group 1 receiving Chlorhexidine gluconate and Group 2 receiving Povidone-Iodine for skin preparation. Data on various factors were recorded, and the occurrence of SSIs within ten days of cesarean delivery was assessed. Results: The study included women aged 18 to 45 years. The efficacy of Chlorhexidine and Povidine iodine in preventing SSIs was evaluated. The results showed that Chlorhexidine was effective in preventing SSIs in 94.3% of cases, while Povidone iodine was effective in 91.4% of cases. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. The study results were consistent with previous research showing a reduction in SSI rates with the use of Chlorhexidine or Povidone- iodine. The overall rate of SSI was lower in the Chlorhexidine group, but contextual factors and adherence to infection control practices may influence outcomes. Conclusion. This study augments existing knowledge on preventing SSIs in C-section deliveries. While both Chlorhexidine and Povidone-iodine demonstrated comparable efficacy, Chlorhexidine appeared slightly more effective in reducing SSIs. Nonetheless, the study's limitations underscore the necessity for further research in diverse healthcare settings.