A new study published in the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery aimed to assess the virucidal effect of povidone-iodine (PVP-I) on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), and suitable dose-formulation for nasal application.

This was a single-center, open-label randomized clinical trial with a 7-arm parallel-group design, performed in Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital. The study included 189 confirmed SARS CoV-2 positive, symptomatic patients, 12-90 years of age. Here, nasopharyngeal clearance of SARS-CoV-2 was tested after PVP-I nasal irrigation at diluted concentrations of 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.6%, and PVP-I nasal spray at diluted concentrations of 0.5% and 0.6%. 

The findings showed that all strengths of PVP-I nasal irrigation were effective in nasopharyngeal clearance compared to the control. All strengths of PVP-I nasal spray also prove to be more effective than control. 

The highest nasopharyngeal clearance was recorded in patients using 0.5% nasal irrigation. Nasal irritation was the single most common adverse event – reported in two patients using 0.4%, and 0.6% PVP-I, respectively. Both the formulations of PVP-I showed efficacy for nasopharyngeal clearance in-vivo. Future community trials are warranted to repurpose these solutions as preventive agents against SARS-CoV2. 

Source: Kamal Arefin M, Banu SS, Nasir Uddin AKM, et al. Virucidal Effect of Povidone Iodine on SARS-CoV-2 in Nasopharynx: An Open-label Randomized Clinical Trial [published online ahead of print, 2022 May 6]. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;1-10. doi:10.1007/s12070-022-03106-0