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Nasal and oral Povidone-Iodine solutions rapidly and effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2

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eMediNexus Editorial    06 July 2021

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic was first reported in December 2019. Since then it has spread globally and affected millions of people. Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is via respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces and objects (fomite transmission). The reservoirs of the virus are the nasal cavities, nasopharynx, oral cavity and oropharynx. Use of personal protection equipment (PPE) including masks and regular disinfection of hands and surfaces reduce the transmission of the virus. Another strategy is nasal and oral decontamination with an antiseptic like Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) to minimize the virus aerosolization before it reaches surfaces and other fomites. The key salient features of PVP-I are its broad antimicrobial spectrum and lack of microbial resistance. Also, it has been a widely used antiseptic. With this background, researchers undertook one of the first studies to evaluate the virucidal activity of PVP-1 nasal antiseptic formulations and PVP-I oral rinse antiseptic formulations from 1% to 5% concentrations against SARS-CoV-2. The virus was exposed directly to the test compound for 60 seconds, compounds were then neutralized, and surviving virus was quantified.

The nasal antiseptics and oral rinse antiseptics were shown to completely inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 in all concentrations used in the study. Virus titers and the log reduction value (LRV) of SARS-CoV-2 after incubation with each of the nasal and oral antiseptics evaluated were effective at reducing >4 log10 CCID50 infectious virus, from 5.3 log10 CCID50/0.1 mL to ≤1 log10 CCID50/0.1 mL. No cytotoxicity was observed.

This study demonstrated that different concentrations of the nasal and oral antiseptic preparations tested were able to rapidly and effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2. It was also suitable for safe administration to the nasal and oral mucosa. Oral and nasal decontamination therefore may be an effective strategy, complementary to other preventive measures, to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in known or suspected cases of COVID-19. 

Source: Pelletier JS, et al, Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Apr;100(2_suppl):192S-196S.

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