Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study

Abstract The use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) as surgical preparation solution has been advocated due to reduced bacterial loads compared with povidone-iodine (PI). We aimed to investigate changes to the vaginal microenvironment among patients who had laparoscopic hysterectomy and were surgicall...

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Main Authors: Paweł Łaniewski, Gabriella Smith, Phoebe Crossley, Leslie V. Farland, Nichole D. Mahnert, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-05-01
Series:npj Women's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-024-00022-2
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author Paweł Łaniewski
Gabriella Smith
Phoebe Crossley
Leslie V. Farland
Nichole D. Mahnert
Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz
author_facet Paweł Łaniewski
Gabriella Smith
Phoebe Crossley
Leslie V. Farland
Nichole D. Mahnert
Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz
author_sort Paweł Łaniewski
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) as surgical preparation solution has been advocated due to reduced bacterial loads compared with povidone-iodine (PI). We aimed to investigate changes to the vaginal microenvironment among patients who had laparoscopic hysterectomy and were surgically prepped using 4% CHG compared to 7.5% PI. Premenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions and were prepped with either CHG or PI per surgeon’s choice were enrolled. Vaginal swabs and cervicovaginal lavages were collected prior to vaginal preparation and at 4–6 week post-operative visits for microbiome (α and β diversity, bacterial relative abundances, vaginal pH) and immune marker analyses (protein profiles and concentrations). Antimicrobial activity of clinical CHG and PI formulations were tested in vitro using minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration assays. Between February 2021 and June 2022, 41 patients were enrolled. Seven patients either withdrew consent or met exclusion criteria for vaginal bleeding. Thirty-four patients had pre-operative samples collected; 13 patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 21 patients with longitudinal samples of pre- and post-operative collection contributed to this study: 13 in the CHG group and 8 in the PI group. Prior to surgery, 75–77% of women in both groups exhibited Lactobacillus dominance. PI did not change overall vaginal microbiome profiles; however, CHG impacted Lactobacillus iners-dominant profiles, shifting to other lactobacilli (50%) or dysbiotic anaerobes (33%). Lactobacillus crispatus-dominant profiles, which are optimal for vaginal health, were not impacted by either antiseptic solution. In vitro assays further confirmed higher susceptibility of L. iners to CHG solution compared to other vaginal lactobacilli species. Pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines were not increased in the CHG or PI group. Our study suggests that CHG does not increase the rate of post-operative vaginal dysbiosis, or genital inflammation compared to PI. Species-specific effects of CHG on vaginal lactobacilli and its clinical impact require further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-51fba2417cc646eab85fcb9bc3070dff2025-08-20T01:57:48ZengNature Portfolionpj Women's Health2948-17162024-05-01211910.1038/s44294-024-00022-2Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot studyPaweł Łaniewski0Gabriella Smith1Phoebe Crossley2Leslie V. Farland3Nichole D. Mahnert4Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz5Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine – Phoenix, University of ArizonaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine – Phoenix, University of ArizonaUniversity of BathDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of ArizonaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine – Phoenix, University of ArizonaDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine – Phoenix, University of ArizonaAbstract The use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) as surgical preparation solution has been advocated due to reduced bacterial loads compared with povidone-iodine (PI). We aimed to investigate changes to the vaginal microenvironment among patients who had laparoscopic hysterectomy and were surgically prepped using 4% CHG compared to 7.5% PI. Premenopausal women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions and were prepped with either CHG or PI per surgeon’s choice were enrolled. Vaginal swabs and cervicovaginal lavages were collected prior to vaginal preparation and at 4–6 week post-operative visits for microbiome (α and β diversity, bacterial relative abundances, vaginal pH) and immune marker analyses (protein profiles and concentrations). Antimicrobial activity of clinical CHG and PI formulations were tested in vitro using minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration assays. Between February 2021 and June 2022, 41 patients were enrolled. Seven patients either withdrew consent or met exclusion criteria for vaginal bleeding. Thirty-four patients had pre-operative samples collected; 13 patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 21 patients with longitudinal samples of pre- and post-operative collection contributed to this study: 13 in the CHG group and 8 in the PI group. Prior to surgery, 75–77% of women in both groups exhibited Lactobacillus dominance. PI did not change overall vaginal microbiome profiles; however, CHG impacted Lactobacillus iners-dominant profiles, shifting to other lactobacilli (50%) or dysbiotic anaerobes (33%). Lactobacillus crispatus-dominant profiles, which are optimal for vaginal health, were not impacted by either antiseptic solution. In vitro assays further confirmed higher susceptibility of L. iners to CHG solution compared to other vaginal lactobacilli species. Pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines were not increased in the CHG or PI group. Our study suggests that CHG does not increase the rate of post-operative vaginal dysbiosis, or genital inflammation compared to PI. Species-specific effects of CHG on vaginal lactobacilli and its clinical impact require further investigation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-024-00022-2
spellingShingle Paweł Łaniewski
Gabriella Smith
Phoebe Crossley
Leslie V. Farland
Nichole D. Mahnert
Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz
Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study
npj Women's Health
title Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study
title_full Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study
title_fullStr Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study
title_short Impact of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies: a pilot study
title_sort impact of chlorhexidine and povidone iodine antiseptic solutions on the cervicovaginal microenvironment during laparoscopic hysterectomies a pilot study
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-024-00022-2
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