What Are Potential Problems of Using Povidone-Iodine?

Discussion Povidone-iodine (polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine or PVP-I) is one of the most common antiseptics for more than 150 years. It is used for antisepsis mainly topically but also in mucosal cavities (i.e. mouth, nose, throat, vagina, etc.) or surfaces (i.e. umbilical cord). It has been used to treat chronic mucosal infections such as adult chronic rhinosinusitis. It’s irritant properties are used for chemical pleurodesis. A common trade solution is Betadine® which contains “90% water, 8.5% PVP and 1% available iodine and iodine with a free iodine concentration of 1 parts-per-million.” PVP-I is a brown/orange color and iodine is the active agent. Preparations include solutions, foams, ointments and scrubs. They may contain additional active ingredients as well including alcohol. The free iodine is concentration dependent and its bactericidal effect is bell-shaped. “As the content of free iodine increases from 1 ppm [parts per million], effectiveness reaches a maximum at about 0.1% strength or 1:100 dilution, but then decreases with further increased iodine concentration.” The mechanism of action is thought to be that the iodine molecule being very small is able “…to penetrate into microorganisms and oxidizes key proteins, nucleotides and fatty acids, eventually leading to cell death.” It works against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (including antibiotic and antiseptic resistant on...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news