Effect of Skin Antisepsis After Skin Closure on Wound Infection After Abdominal Surgery for Sepsis: a Preliminary Report

The benefits of pre-incision skin antisepsis is well established. However, the role of skin antisepsis after skin closure in abdominal surgery for sepsis is not well reported. This study examined whether the use of skin antisepsis after closing the skin during a surgery for an infection within the abdomen would have an effect on wound infection in the post-operative period. The patients - aged 18 years and above - were categorised into two groups: the first had antisepsis with povidone iodine-soaked gauze while the second group of patients had their wound only dressed with a dry sterile gauze. Both groups were then compared for the occurrence of surgical site infection and other post-operative outcomes. The null hypothesis was that intra-operative skin antisepsis after skin closure following abdominal surgeries would have no effect on the incidence of post-operative Surgical Site Infection while the alternative hypothesis was that intra-operative skin antisepsis after skin closure following abdominal surgeries would have an effect on the incidence of post-operative Surgical Site Infection.