COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRE-CAESAREAN VAGINAL WASH WITH 5% POVIDONE – IODINE SOLUTION VERSUS NO WASH IN PREVENTING POSTOPERATIVE INFECTION.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of pre-cesarean vaginal wash using 5% Povidone Iodine solution on rate of post-cesarean section (CS) surgical site infection and compared with No swabbing.Method: A Prospective Randomized controlled Trial was conducted in department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Government medical college, Aurangabad. In interventional group, vaginal swabbing with a gauze pieces impregnated with 5% Povidone Iodine solution was done for 30 seconds. The swabbing of vagina was not performed in cases assigned to control group, however the standard surgical preparation of abdomen was done in a usual manner for both group. All subject received prophylactic antibiotic cover. Collected data was complied in pre-designed proforma and analysis was done using SPSS 15.Result: The risk of post operative fever and wound infection was significantly reduced in interventional group. No measure difference was noted in seroma and composite wound infection. Also less duration of hospital stay in interventional group was noted. No adverse effect of use of Povidone iodine was reported in the interventional group.Conclusion: Vaginal swabbing with 5% Povidone-iodine pre- LSCS is inexpensive and simple intervention even for low resource setting to decrease surgical site infection.