An Asian Perspective On Povidone Iodine in Wound Healing: Review Paper
An Asian Perspective On Povidone Iodine in Wound Healing: Review Paper
An Asian Perspective On Povidone Iodine in Wound Healing: Review Paper
Harikrishna Nair f Gulapar Srisawasdi g
a
Clinical Research Unit for Skin, Allergy and Regeneration (CRUSAR), Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for
Science, Technology and Research, and b Division of Rheumatology, National University Hospital, National
University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and University Medicine Cluster, National University
Health System, Singapore; c Department of Plastic, Esthetic and Special Hand Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig,
Leipzig, Germany; d Division of Plastic Surgery, University of the Philippines – College of Medicine and Philippine
General Hospital, Manila, Philippines; e Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University
Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; f Wound Care Unit, Department
of Internal Medicine, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; g Siriraj Interdisciplinary Diabetic Lower
Extremity Care Team, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital,
Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Abstract
Antiseptics, with a broader spectrum of antimicrobial effi-
cacy, lower risk of antibiotic resistance development, and Introduction
minimal collateral damage to host tissues, are important al-
ternatives to control the bioburden in wounds. Povidone io- Antiseptics are defined as agents used to inhibit or kill
dine (PVP-I), in use for several decades, has the broadest microorganisms present within a wound or on intact skin
spectrum of activity, a persistent antimicrobial effect, an [1, 2] and have long been used on wounds to prevent or
ability to penetrate biofilms, and a lack of acquired or cross- treat infections. Despite this, and in the absence of stan-
resistance. It demonstrates good skin tolerance and low cy- dardized practice and clinical study guidelines, there con-
totoxicity. However, some reports on PVP-I have raised con- tinues to be a great deal of debate and controversy on the
cerns over allergy, ineffective penetration, and toxic effects appropriate use of antiseptics.
on host cells. The majority of these concerns are based on in Iodine has been used as an antiseptic in the treatment
vitro or rodent wound studies with diverse study designs of wounds for more than a century [3], yet questions are
and outcomes; these results may not be directly applicable raised about the place of iodine-based agents in the man-