Povidone-iodine irrigation of the subcutaneous tissue to prevent surgical wound infections.

In a prospective randomized trial, the influence of irrigation of the subcutaneous tissue using povidone-iodine solution upon the development of postoperative wound infection was examined in 592 patients undergoing general surgical operative procedures. No beneficial effect of irrigation with povidone-iodine solution could be demonstrated, nor could it be demonstrated in the group as a whole or in the subgroups according to bacterial contamination.