Prevention of postoperative wound infections by covering the surgical field with iodine-impregnated incision drape (Ioban(®) 2)

The literature is used to analyse the significance of the use of iodine-impregnated incision drape (Ioban(®) 2) for the prevention of postoperative wound infections (SSI). The drape has a microbiocidal effect in vitro. Consequently an antiseptic effect also occurs under the incision drape when it is applied to the skin; at the same time, bacterial wound contamination is reduced. Overall, based on the efficacy strength of the antiseptic incision drape, a reduction of the SSI rate can, however, be confirmed only with a large sample size. A meta analysis which evaluated four prospective studies and one retrospective study was able to provide significant confirmation of a reduction in the SSI rate. There are no limitations in terms of the biocompatibility of the iodine-impregnated incision drape.