Chlorhexidine versus Tincture of Iodine for Reduction of Blood Culture Contamination Rates: A Prospective Randomized Crossover Study

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Story-Roller E, Weinstein MP.
J Clin Microbiol. 2016 Dec;54(12):3007-3009.
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ

  • Of the 6,095 total blood culture sets obtained, 667 (10.94%) were positive and 238 (3.90%) were contaminated.
  • Of the 3,130 blood cultures obtained using IT, 340 (10.86%) were positive and 123 (3.93%) were contaminated. Of the 2,965 blood cultures obtained using CHG, 327 (11.03%) were positive, and 115 (3.88%) were contaminated.
  • The rates of contaminated blood cultures between the two antiseptic agents were not different statistically.

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