title: Postsurgical contact dermatitis due to povidone iodine: a diagnostic dilemma.
abstract: We present 7 cases of postsurgical contact dermatitis due to povidone iodine. The diagnosis was based on the clinical manifestations, the history of exposure, the site of the lesions, and the results of patch tests. This type of dermatitis can develop in the area of surgery or at distant sites exposed to povidone iodine during the surgical intervention. Patch tests with 10% povidone iodine in petrolatum were positive in all patients. Based on the results of the same tests in a control group, we recommend the use of petrolatum rather than water as the vehicle for the diagnosis of this form of contact dermatitis. Repeated open application tests with a commercially available solution of povidone iodine were negative. We conclude that the presence of the solution under occlusion during surgery is necessary both for the symptoms to develop and for the diagnosis to be made. This condition may be underdiagnosed.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia cutánea, Servicio de Dermatología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: jesusdelacuadra@aedv.es.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Cuadra-Oyanguren
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia cutánea, Servicio de Dermatología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaragozá-Ninet
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia cutánea, Servicio de Dermatología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sierra-Talamantes
authors.affiliation: Sección de Alergia cutánea, Servicio de Dermatología, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alegre de Miquel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine
keywords: Antiseptics; Antisépticos; Cirugía; Contact dermatitis; Dermatitis de contacto; Patch tests; Povidona iodada; Povidone iodine; Prueba abierta repetida; Pruebas epicutáneas; Repeated open application test; Surgery