Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Different perineal cleaning and disinfection preparations before vaginal birth to maternal/neonatal infections and cost effectiveness: A randomized controlled trial
1
National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Graduate Institute of Nurse-Midwifery, Taipei, Taiwan Province of China
2
National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Nurse-Midwifery and Women Health, Taipei, Taiwan Province of China
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A516
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Perineal preparation during labor aims to minimize infection risks. While povidone-iodine is widely used, it may disrupt vaginal microbiota and neonatal colonization. With rising healthcare costs, reevaluating its efficacy is essential.
OBJECTIVES:
This randomized controlled trial compared povidone-iodine disinfection versus clean water cleansing during vaginal delivery, assessing postpartum infection rates, neonatal oral microbiota, and cost-effectiveness.
METHODS:
Conducted at a Taiwanese medical center (Nov 2024–May 2025), the study enrolled 126 low-risk women (58 povidone-iodine, 68 clean water). Outcomes included maternal temperature, WBC, CRP, REEDA scores, neonatal microbiota, and costs. Data were analyzed using t-tests and generalized estimating equations (GEE).
RESULTS:
Clinical equivalence was observed between methods. The povidone-iodine group had marginally higher maternal temperatures (p<0.05), though all values were subclinical. No significant differences were found in inflammatory markers (CRP) or wound healing (REEDA scores). Clean water preparation was significantly more cost-effective (NT.77 vs. NT6.91 per procedure) and time efficient. Neonatal oral microbiota analysis revealed similar colonization patterns, with a slight increase in potentially harmful bacteria in the povidone-iodine group, suggesting clean water may offer ecological benefits for early microbiome development.
CONCLUSIONS:
For low-risk births, clean water cleansing provides equivalent infection prevention while reducing costs and procedure time. The findings support adopting clean water as the standard perineal preparation method in routine vaginal births, reserving antiseptics for high-risk cases. This approach aligns with antimicrobial stewardship and cost-effective care without compromising safety.
KEY MESSAGE:
Clean water perineal cleansing matches povidone-iodine’s efficacy in low-risk births, is cheaper/faster, and may benefit neonatal microbiota. Recommends water as standard for uncomplicated deliveries. Poster session 1 (Group A)
Perineal preparation during labor aims to minimize infection risks. While povidone-iodine is widely used, it may disrupt vaginal microbiota and neonatal colonization. With rising healthcare costs, reevaluating its efficacy is essential.
OBJECTIVES:
This randomized controlled trial compared povidone-iodine disinfection versus clean water cleansing during vaginal delivery, assessing postpartum infection rates, neonatal oral microbiota, and cost-effectiveness.
METHODS:
Conducted at a Taiwanese medical center (Nov 2024–May 2025), the study enrolled 126 low-risk women (58 povidone-iodine, 68 clean water). Outcomes included maternal temperature, WBC, CRP, REEDA scores, neonatal microbiota, and costs. Data were analyzed using t-tests and generalized estimating equations (GEE).
RESULTS:
Clinical equivalence was observed between methods. The povidone-iodine group had marginally higher maternal temperatures (p<0.05), though all values were subclinical. No significant differences were found in inflammatory markers (CRP) or wound healing (REEDA scores). Clean water preparation was significantly more cost-effective (NT.77 vs. NT6.91 per procedure) and time efficient. Neonatal oral microbiota analysis revealed similar colonization patterns, with a slight increase in potentially harmful bacteria in the povidone-iodine group, suggesting clean water may offer ecological benefits for early microbiome development.
CONCLUSIONS:
For low-risk births, clean water cleansing provides equivalent infection prevention while reducing costs and procedure time. The findings support adopting clean water as the standard perineal preparation method in routine vaginal births, reserving antiseptics for high-risk cases. This approach aligns with antimicrobial stewardship and cost-effective care without compromising safety.
KEY MESSAGE:
Clean water perineal cleansing matches povidone-iodine’s efficacy in low-risk births, is cheaper/faster, and may benefit neonatal microbiota. Recommends water as standard for uncomplicated deliveries. Poster session 1 (Group A)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
