Postgraduate medical journal
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Infection is one of the most frequent complications of wound healing despite the use of antibiotics and modern sterile technique; it accounts for considerable patient morbidity, discomfort, and prolonged hospitalization, and it must be avoided to permit proper healing. For this purpose, topical antiseptics have been employed for several years. Among these povidone-iodine formulations (polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine; PVP-I; e.g., Betadine preparations), which consist of a water-soluble complex of elemental iodine and a synthetic polymer, have a broad antimicrobial spectrum, and have not been reported to develop bacterial resistance. ⋯ In human wounds, no delays occurred in healing, even when gel-type occlusive dressings were added to the wounds; in fact, bandage-wearing time was shortened in those patients treated with PVP-I ointment. PVP-I cream (5%) was also studied in humans; the cream formulation appeared to decrease healing time. Based on these studies, it can be concluded that povidone-iodine preparations do not have a deleterious effect on wound healing.