Povidone-iodine lowers the incidence of catheter-associated bloodstream infection

Background Central venous (CV) catheters are required for chemotherapy but they may become a source of life-threatening infections of the bloodstream. The most effective way to disinfect the port of a CV catheter has not been established. Methods We report the data obtained between April 2008 and March 2010 using 83% ethanol (period I) and between April 2010 and March 2014 using 10% povidone-iodine (period II) to sterilize the access port. The participants received chemotherapy or autologous/allogeneic stem cell transplantation at the present institution. Results No significant difference was observed in patient characteristics between the two periods, such as disease, median age, or the period of neutropenia. The incidence of positive blood culture during periods I and II was 18.5% (31/168) and 11.4% (40/350; P = 0.041), respectively. The incidence of catheter-associated bloodstream infection on blood culture during periods I and II was 11.9% (20/168) and 6.3% (22/350; P = 0.043), respectively. Bacillus cereus infection was not detected during period II. Conclusion The incidence of infection caused by CV catheters was significantly reduced using povidone-iodine; therefore, we recommend this procedure as part of the routine in chemotherapy.