Disinfection of the umbilicus for abdominal surgery.

Bacteriological investigation of the adult umbilicus showed that it is much more profusely colonised by bacteria than the rest of the abdominal skin. Routine preoperative treatment with alcoholic chlorhexidine solution did not disinfect the umbilicus satisfactorily. Better results were achieved by disinfection with povidone iodine followed by alcoholic chlorhexidine.