Meta-analysis of intraoperative povidone-iodine application to prevent surgical-site infection.

The article presents a meta-analysis of 24 case studies conducted in several countries from 1974 to 2007, which demonstrates the effectiveness of intraoperative povidone-iodine (PVI) antiseptic application in preventing surgical-site infection (SSI). Out of the 24 randomized controlled trials included in the analysis, in which a group of 2,465 surgical patients who were given PVI lavage was compared to a control group of 2,539 patients who received saline lavage, overall SSI rates were 13.4% in the control group and 8% in the PVI group.