Good infection control starts before surgery; so does the cost-benefit analysis

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If you can ignore the impending incision, there’s something reassuring about having that brownish-orange povidone-iodine (usually referred to as Betadine) applied to one’s skin. It’s a visible reminder of the invisible germ-killing taking place. But it may not be the most effective choice.

In a study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that chlorhexidine-alcohol was more effective at preventing infections.

Here’s the abstract. Plus a full story from MedPage Today and a look at the costs from the Houston Chronicle’s MedBlog.

Guess which antiseptic is more expensive. Let the cost-benefit analysis begin.

-- Tami Dennis