title: The mythology of povidone-iodine and the development of self-sterilizing plastics.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: LeVeen
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: LeVeen
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: LeVeen
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D010969:Plastics; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010969:Plastics; D011206:Povidone-Iodine