Povidone-iodine wash solutions in the prevention of superficial fungal infections; predictive evaluation using the corneofungimetry bioassay.
OBJECTIVE
Prevention of superficial mycoses remains a stubborn problem. The effect of antiseptics for that purpose is largely unknown. We studied the potential fungitoxic activity of povidone iodine (PVP-I) contained in wash solutions.


METHODS
The corneofungimetry bioassay was conducted using PVP-I at 1.33%, 2.5%, 4% and 7.5% as test products and four target fungi, namely Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, var. interdigitale (20 strains) and Microsporum canis.


RESULTS
Data show that PVP-I limits fungal growth on stratum corneum. Different species and strains of fungi are not similarly affected. There also exists a diversity of individual susceptibility of the stratum corneum to promote germination of yeasts and arthroconidia.
Piérard
G E
GE
Belgian SSTC Research Center, Department of Dermatopathology, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Piérard-Franchimont
C
C
Arrese
J E
JE
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013045:Species Specificity
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine