In a series of seventy-six cases, using zephiran as a skin germicide, wound infection followed in one case, an incidence of 1.3 per cent. There is reasonable doubt about skin contamination in this case.
In fifty-one cases from skin cut from areas prepared with zephiran, cultures showed growth in two cases. Growth was present in all controls.
In a comparative study of twenty-five cases in which laparotomy was performed with 312 per cent tincture of iodine, there were infected wounds in seven cases or 28 per cent.
No skin irritation was noted with zephiran even under adhesive plaster.