The mythology of povidone-iodine and the development of self-sterilizing plastics.
The predominance of elemental iodine as a chemical antiseptic has been established during a century. Free iodine is effective for treatment and prevention of infection. Iodophors, such as povidone-iodine, have replaced elemental iodine in clinical use. Toxic absorption of povidone-iodine occurs from all tissues except intact adult skin, to which its use should be restricted. Povidone-iodine binds iodine so firmly that insufficient free iodine is released to be effective for treating or preventing infection. It is a weak antiseptic that is marginally acceptable as a disinfectant for adult skin. The shortcomings of povidone-iodine stimulated a search for iodophors that would liberate therapeutically effective concentrations of free iodine. These investigations led to a new self-sterilizing plastic formed by the complexing of polyurethane and iodine.
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Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
LeVeen
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LeVeen
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D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D010969:Plastics; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010969:Plastics; D011206:Povidone-Iodine