Antiseptics in the Era of Bacterial Resistance: a Focus on Povidone Iodine
Therapeutic Perspective Antiseptics in the era of bacterial resistance: a focus on povidone iodine Jean-Marie Lachapelle*1, Olivier Castel2, Alejandro Fueyo Casado3, Bernard Leroy1, Giuseppe Micali4, Dominique Tennstedt1 & Julien Lambert5 Practice Points Increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics makes the management of superficial skin infections a major medical challenge. Antiseptics have broader spectrums of antimicrobial activity and a reduced potential for selection of bacterial resistance, relative to antibiotics. Consequently, antiseptics are appropriate alternatives to antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of superficial skin infections. Of four widely used antiseptics (povidone iodine, polihexanide, chlorhexidine and octenidine), povidone iodine has a particularly broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity that includes Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Widespread and extended use of povidone iodine is not associated with the selection of resistant bacterial strains. In contrast, bacterial resistance to chlorhexidine, quaternary ammonium salts, silver and triclosan has been documented. Regarding duration of effect on healthy skin, chlorhexidine is active for 1–4 h, whereas solutions of povidone iodine are active for 12–14 h. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic formulations of povidone iodine have good skin tolerance. Povidone iodine scrub has better skin tolerance than soap formulations of chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g., benzalkonium chloride and
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