Iodophor-Impregnated Drapes Are Beneficial in Reducing Surgical Wound Contamination

Various means of skin prep and perioperative antibiotics have done little to move the needle in regard to postoperative periprosthetic joint infection over the last few decades. Iodophor-impregnated adhesive skin drapes have shown some potential benefit on reducing such infections or at least the bacterial load at the wound. A recent study has shown up to 4 times the contamination rate of surgical blades when these drapes are not used [1].