Povidone-iodine kills highly resistant strains

FRANKFURT, Germany — Povidone-iodine killed organisms with a high degree of resistance to other antibiotics in testing performed here.

The study, at the University of Frankfurt, found that the microbicidal action spectrum of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is broad, and unlike local antibiotics and other antiseptic substances, no resistance develops.

PVP-I showed a high degree of bactericidal efficacy against highly resistant gram-positive pathogenic micro-organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and enterococcus strains.

The study was done in vitro with 10 genotypically different MRSA isolates. PVP-I showed an optimum bactericidal effect without protein load after just 30 seconds exposure in a dilution of 1% Betaisodona solution. With a protein load (0.2% albumin), the optimum in microbicidal effectiveness shifts to concentrations greater than 10% Betaisodona solution with an exposure time of 30 seconds.

The study authors pointed out that recent results are now available on the toxicological safety of PVP-I preparations for the ciliated epithelium of the nasal mucosa and the drug has shown good tolerability on skin and other mucous membranes. A controlled clinical study is currently being carried out to eliminate colonizations of MRSA. Evidence has also recently been produced of the antiviral activity of PVP-I against herpes simplex, adeno- and enteroviruses, as well as its high degree of efficiency against Chlamydia.

This article can be found in the May edition of Dermatology.