AN UP-TO-DATE ON POVIDONE-IODINE WITH FOCUS ON WOUND MANAGEMNT: CURRENT AVAILABLE DATA AND NEW APPROACHES

Wound care, mainly chronic wounds and burns with difficult bioburden control and at high risk of infection or biofilm development, remains a challenge. Between antiseptics, as a good option for wound management, povidone-iodine (PVI) is one of the most commonly used. Although with a broad spectrum and efficacy including on biofilms, the available data is controversial, especially regarding its effects on wound healing. Thus, the aim of this paper was to evaluate recent publish data, including original research papers and case reports. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, using a key terms strategy for papers published from 2021 up to present. Out of 101 results, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 24 papers were selected for in depth analysis and divided in three categories: reviews, original research and case reports. Out of the selected papers, 6 (25%) were reviews, including two systematic reviews on clinical trials and 3 (12.5%) case reports, out which one reported a significant adverse effect. A total of 15 (62.5%) original research papers were included, that reported heterogeneous results in regards with povidone-iodine effects but similar antimicrobial efficacy. The recent data is focused on comparing antiseptics, including PVI, and proposing algorithms for wound management. Although there is heterogeneity between experimental designs, there is a shift towards more complex models. Thus, is emphasising the need for standardized antiseptic tests and clinical guidelines.

Automated summary

This paper evaluates recent published data on the effectiveness of povidone-iodine as a wound care option and its impact on wound healing. The results show that povidone-iodine has similar antimicrobial efficacy but controversial effects on wound healing. Recent data focuses on comparing different antiseptics and proposing algorithms for wound management. However, the heterogeneity in experimental designs emphasizes the importance of standardized antimicrobial tests and clinical guidelines.