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Can Povidone-Iodine gargle/mouthrinse inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and decrease the risk of nosocomial and community transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic?

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eMediNexus    02 February 2022

The Coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), is caused by a new coronavirus strain similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), which transmits via respiratory droplets, saliva, or direct contact. Thus controlling the viral load in the saliva and respiratory secretions is crucial. 

Implementation of effective oral and throat hygiene will serve as the simplest and cost-effective measures that can be adopted by the public and healthcare professionals to prevent cross-contamination and community transmission.

0.5% Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) mouth rinse/gargle for 30 s has shown to reduce SARS-CoV-2 virus infectivity to below detectable levels. It can even interrupt SARS-CoV-2 attachment to oral and nasopharyngeal tissues and reduce the viral particles in the saliva and respiratory droplets. 

Thus, using PVP-I mouth rinse as a prophylactic measure is now been advised globally to reduce disease transmission. However, there is a lack of literature describing the evidence and mechanisms of PVP-I against the SARS-CoV-2. A review paper highlighted the following recommendations for its use-

  • Patients with confirmed/suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection; Patients who are undergoing high-risk procedures (e.g. those involving nasal, oral, pharyngeal, and pulmonary secretions); Patients residing in COVID-19 hotspots; Unconscious patients can use Oral or nasal PVP-I, every 2–3 h, up to 4 times/day.
  • Healthcare providers before and after patient contact; or are involved in the care of patients with suspected/confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, or involved in high-risk procedures for patients in COVID-19 hotspots; or facing Lack of adequate PPE (e.g. N95, PAPR), can use nasal and oral PVP-I, every 2–3 h, up to 4 times/day.
  • Patients and/or healthcare providers in COVID-19 hotspots involved in high-risk procedures; or the asymptomatic patients can use optional nasal and oral PVP-I, every 2–3 h, up to 4 times/day

Source- Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2021 Nov;57:39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jdsr.2021.03.001. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

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