Iodine Impregnated Incision Drapes and Bacterial Recolonization in Simulated Knee Surgery. A Controlled Randomized Experimental Trial.

This study evaluates the effect of Iodine-impregnated self-adhesive plastic drapes (IIAD) on the quantity of skin bacteria, which is a known factor in the development of surgical site infections in orthopedic surgery. 16 patients scheduled for total knee replacement surgery (TKA) are recruited for participation in an intervention performed at the orthopedic ward of Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Right or left patient knee is randomized to receive draping with IIAD, while the other knee is not draped. Local standard preoperative procedure for knee surgery is then simulated. After 75 minutes both knee are sampled for bacterial quantity using the cup scrub method and samples are aerobically incubated. The bacterial growth of the IIAD and no-drape group are then compared using nonparametric statistics.