Povidone-Iodine, 0.05% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, or Water for Periurethral Cleaning Before Indwelling Urinary Catheterization in a Pediatric Intensive Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of periurethral cleaning with 10% povidone-iodine, 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate, or sterile water in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) prior to indwelling urinary catheter insertion in a pediatric intensive care unit. A secondary aim was to identify pathogens resulting in CAUTIs in this group.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING: One hundred twenty-two patients cared for in a pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital between September 2012 and December 2013 participated in the study.

METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups: periurethral cleansing with 0.05% chlorhexidine; 10% povidone-iodine; or sterile water. The patients in each group were cleansed 3 times using different sterile pads and assigned cleansing solutions for as long as the patients were observed or until the urinary catheter was removed. Daily monitoring forms, which included physiologic and physical parameters and catheter-related infections, were completed for all patients. We used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Health and Safety Network criteria to determine the presence of a CAUTI.

RESULTS: CAUTIs occurred in 6 patients (15%) allocated to periurethral cleansing with povidone-iodine, 2 (4.8%) in the chlorhexidine gluconate group, and 3 (7.5%) in the sterile water group. Although more patients in the povidone-iodine group had CAUTI than in the other 2 groups, differences were not statistically significant (P > .05).

CONCLUSION: We found no statistically significant differences in CAUTI rates in the 3 groups. Further investigation with a larger study group is needed to more definitively identify any difference in CAUTI occurrences based on periurethral cleansing solution.