A Randomized Trial Comparing Skin Antiseptic Agents at Cesarean Delivery

In this single-center trial comparing chlorhexidine–alcohol with iodine–alcohol for skin antisepsis before cesarean delivery, the use of chlorhexidine–alcohol resulted in a risk of surgical-site infection that was significantly lower than that associated with iodine–alcohol. Cesarean delivery is the most common major surgical procedure among women in the United States. 1 In 2013, more than 32.7% (1.3 million) of the 3.9 million births were by cesarean section. 2 Surgical-site infections complicate 2 to 5% of all surgical procedures and 5 to 12% of cesarean deliveries. 3 – 6 Infection occurring after delivery places an extra burden on the new mother and may impair mother–infant bonding and breast-feeding. The average attributable hospital cost per surgical-site infection after cesarean delivery is estimated to be $3,529. 7 The skin is a major source of pathogens that cause surgical-site infections. Therefore, preoperative skin antisepsis . . .