Betadine versus saline in swapping of subcutaneous tissue to prevent surgical site infection after cesarean section

Background and aim The frequency of abdominal wound infection following cesarean delivery ranges from 2 to 10% based on risk factors, so this study aimed to compare betadine (10%) and saline (0.9%) in swapping of subcutaneous tissue for prevention of surgical site infection after primary elective cesarean section. Patients and methods This controlled randomized prospective study was done on 300 patients admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Lsis Specialized Hospital Luxor and Al-Azhar University hospitals of Assiut. Patients were divided into three groups. Results Hospital stay was significantly lower in the povidone-iodine group and saline group in contrast to the control group. No statistically significant variance was noticed among three groups concerning postoperative pyrexia, the need for additional doses of antibiotics, and secondary sutures (P0.05). No significant variance among the three groups as regards discharge of pus at first, second, and third visits (P0.05). No significant variance among the three groups as regards infection score at the first, second, and third visits (P0.880, 1.00, 1.00, respectively). Conclusion The infection rate and infection score remained stable across visits and showed no significant variances among the examined groups. The choice between betadine and saline for subcutaneous tissue irrigation in cesarean sections may influence specific outcomes, including hematological parameters, hospital stay, and signs of infection. Keywords: betadine, cesarean section, saline, surgical site infection