Povidone-Iodine Solution in Wound Treatment

Clinicians have used numerous strategies to combat wound infections, including topical and systemic administration of antibiotics, and various antiseptic agents such as hypochlorite (bleach) and hydrogen peroxide have been placed on wounds to kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. A commonly used antimicrobial agent is povidone-iodine (Betadine), a complex of iodine, the bactericidal component, with polyvinylpyrrolidone (povidone), a synthetic polymer. The most common commercial form is a 10% solution in water yielding 1% available iodine. Povidone-iodine is available as a surgical scrub or skin cleanser with a detergent base (0.75% available iodine) or in other forms. Decisions regarding choice of wound treatment involve two basic considerations: (1) how safe is the treatment, and (2) how effective is the treatment. The safety of a wound care treatment may be determined by whether the treatment retards the progress of the wound through the stages of healing (inflammatory, proliferative/reepithelializing, and remodeling). The efficacy of a wound care treatment (e.g., povidone-iodine) can be judged in vitro by its ability to kill microorganisms and in vivo by whether it decreases the rate or severity of wound infection. The task of evaluating the choice of povidone-iodine solution for treatment of wounds, especially the chronic wounds most often seen in physical therapy practice, is made complex by two factors. First, although there is a large body of research into various aspects of povidone-iodine use in wound care, the results are not always germane to the types of wound treatment most often provided by physical therapists. The relevance of in vitro studies regarding safety and effectiveness to in vivo use with patients may be limited. Much of the published research on wound healing uses animal wound models; however, the applicability of findings in animal studies to human wounds has been questioned.