2020.1 SAQ 2 Antiseptic agents

If you saw yesterday’s post, this was the final destination. Almost deserted on a mid-winter’s morning (Preikestolen, Norway)

Compare and contrast povidone iodine and alcoholic chlorhexidine as skin antiseptic agents.

I think this one caught a few people by surprise! However these are drugs that we use or see used on our patients everyday.

You will find the answers to (most of) these statements in a basic pharmacology textbook such as Katzung’s Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

Chlorhexidine is one of the top three causes of anaphylaxis is patients undergoing anaesthesia T/F

Povidone iodine is sporicidal whilst chlorhexidine is not T/F

Povidone iodine must be allowed to dry on the skin to obtain its full activity T/F

Chlorhexidine is neurotoxic T/F

Chlorhexidine retains its activity after exposure to body fluids to a greater degree than povidone iodine T/F

Chlorhexidine is intrinsically a clear solution T/F

BT_PO 1.132 Antiseptics and disinfectants, clinical uses and risks

This is perhaps not one of the most obvious topics to study, but when you think about it, every patient having surgery, and hence being looked after by us, will be exposed to one of these creatures. Probably a good idea to know something about them, especially their hazards….

There is a reasonable section on this topic in both  Katzung Ch50 and Stoelting’s book Ch41 (until recently unavailable on the ANZCA site – but it is there now, yay!)

For some “clean” is a highly overrated concept….

BT_PO 1.132 Outline the pharmacology of antiseptics and disinfectants, their clinical use and associated risks

Chlorhexidine can cause sensorineural hearing loss if instilled in the middle ear TRUE/FALSE

Povidone-iodine 10% aqueous solution is the only antiseptic which is non toxic to the cornea  TRUE/FALSE

Antiseptics are disinfectants which are safe to use on skin, wounds and mucous membranes    TRUE/FALSE

Providone-iodine is more likely to cause hypersensitivity than tincture of iodine TRUE/FALSE

It is essential to allow chlorhexidine skin preparation to dry before performing spinal anaesthesia   TRUE/FALSE