Bacteriostasis evaluation of the different soaking solutions in perineal skin preparation before the male urethral open operation: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT Perineal soaking is of crucial importance for skin preparation before the male urethral open operation; however, soaking solutions vary across the world. The aim of this research was to explore the bacteriostasis efficacy of the different soaking solutions in perineal skin preparation before the operation. Thirty-six patients were randomly divided into three groups. In Group A, 0·1% povidone iodine was used to soak the 12 patients' perineum to reduce the bacterial load of the skin preparation before the operation. Similarly, combination of 0·1% povidone iodine and 1·6% saline for Group B and 1·6% saline for Group C was used. Bacteria samples were collected in four sites of the patients' perineum, before soaking, 1 d after soaking and 2 d after soaking, respectively. No serious adverse reactions were observed. There was a significant lower bacteria load in Group C after soaking ( P = 0·032). For penoscrotal junction, there were significant lower bacteria loads after soaking in both Group A and Group B compared with Group C ( P = 0·009), and there was significant lower bacteria load after soaking in Group A ( P = 0·001) and Group B ( P = 0·017). Similar with penoscrotal junction, bacteria load at the bottom of the scrotum decreased significantly in Group A ( P = 0·001) and Group B ( P = 0·002) and there were significant lower bacteria loads after soaking in both Group A and Group B compared with Group C ( P = 0·041). In the middle of the penis, still, there were significant lower bacteria loads after soaking in both Group A and Group B compared with Group C ( P = 0·019), and there was significant lower bacteria load after soaking in Group A ( P = 0·012) and Group B ( P = 0·006). In conclusion, combination of 0·1% povidone iodine and 1·6% saline solution for the preoperative skin preparation of male open urethral operation is safe and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]