Investigation the Role of Various Antiseptics on the Prevalence of Skin Microbiota and Post Cesarean Surgery Infections

Abstract

During this study, 690 swabs were taken from different sites divided as the following: First, 350 swabs from surgical instruments, doctor gloves, and antiseptics before beginning cesarean surgery to ensure their sterilization. Second, 310 swabs from 70 skins (out of 100) of female patients attending Al-Elwiya Educational Maternity Hospital were taken at the site of cesarean surgery incision before and after sterilization with 10% povidone-iodine and 10% povidone-iodine mixed with 70% ethanol to detect the efficiency of antiseptics and any bacterial invasion might cause post operative infections. Furthermore, 30 swabs from infected surgical sites were taken from 30 female patients with post operative cesarean infections to detect the causative bacterial pathogen. The result of 350 swabs that were all taken from different surgical instruments, doctor gloves, and antiseptics before surgery in all groups showed negative growth culture. The bacterial isolates were primary identified by phenotypic examinations and biochemical tests and final identification by VITEK -2 system. Staphylococcus epidermidis was revealed to be the prevalent bacterial species from all skin sample sources, while Staphylococcus aureus was dominant in surgical site infections. Sterilization with 10% povidone iodine mixed with 70% ethanol showed less bacterial load on skin with a significant decrease in the numbers of isolated bacteria in comparison to use 10% povidone iodine solution alone.

Keywords

• postoperative infection
• antiseptics
• skin microbiota
• VITEK-2 system