Chemical Considerations Related to The Dilution of Commercial 10% Povidone-Iodine For Use In The COVID-19 Pandemic

Pelletier JS; Amoakohene SK; Nuckolls C

Volume : IX, Issue : VIII, August - 2020

Chemical Considerations Related to The Dilution of Commercial 10% Povidone-Iodine For Use In The COVID-19 Pandemic

Pelletier Js, Amoakohene Sk, Nuckolls C

Abstract :

While personal protective equipment is crucial in the fight against COVID–19, there are additional recommendations and protocols being instituted using nasal and oral antisepsis as an adjunct to help prevent viral spread. Povidone–iodine is a well–known antiviral agent commercially available in the US at concentrations between 5%–10%. Repeated use of lower–concentration povidone–iodine is frequently being implemented in infection control measures using nasal and oral antisepsis. This ief report describes the chemistry of dilute povidone–iodine solutions and highlights the challenges that exist in simply diluting the commonly available commercial 5–10% povidone–iodine solutions. Safety and efficacy could be improved with solutions specifically manufactured at lower concentration with processes that considered the multiple equiliia involved in povidone–iodine solutions, the pH of the effective solutions, and the effects of salts and other excipients in the formulation.