Single-dose intranasal 10% povidone-iodine for perioperative nasal decolonization of Staphylococcus spp.: a randomized, open label, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Preoperative nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) increases surgical site infection (SSI) risk. Mupirocin requires a 5-day regimen and faces resistance concerns. We evaluated whether a single preoperative intranasal application of 10% povidone-iodine (PI) suppresses nasal staphylococcal burden.

METHODS

In a prospective, open label randomized, placebo-controlled trial at a single academic hospital, adults undergoing outpatient surgery were randomized to intranasal 10% PI or sterile saline. Nasal swabs were obtained at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after surgical start following study-agent application. The primary endpoint was reduction in nasal staphylococcal burden in the enrolled cohort. Organism-specific analyses among participants with positive baseline cultures were performed as supportive analyses. Secondary endpoints included SSIs at 7 and 30 days, and tolerability.

RESULTS

Of 192 enrolled, 179 were analyzed (88 PI; 91 saline). At 3 hours, eradication favored PI versus saline: 33.0% vs 10.6% (S. aureus), 47.0% vs 2.9% (MRSA), and 24.0% vs 0.0% (S. epidermidis). Median reduction in log10 enumeration per mL from baseline to 3 hours was greater with PI than saline across S. aureus, MRSA, and S. epidermidis (all p < .001). PI was well tolerated (2/88 [2.1%] minor irritation; no serious adverse events). Thirty-day SSIs were infrequent and were considered exploratory: 1/88 (1.1%) with PI vs 6/91 (6.6%) with saline.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-dose intranasal 10% PI administered preoperatively rapidly suppresses nasal staphylococcal carriage with excellent tolerability. Clinical outcomes, including SSIs, were exploratory. Larger studies are needed to determine whether this microbiologic suppression translates into reduced postoperative infection risk.