POVIDONE IODINE 4% or 7.5%, scrub solution

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Last updated: January 2026

Surgical handscrubbing
Surgical skin preparation (i.e. patient preoperative showering and antiseptic cleansing of the surgical site)
Antiseptic cleansing of wounds

Surgical handscrubbing

There are different protocols, for information:
- Wet hands and forearms; apply 5 ml of solution on hands and forearms and rub for 1 or 2 mins (i.e. 30 seconds or 1 min for each side); scrub the nails of each hand for 30 seconds; rinse.
- Apply 5 ml of solution again on hands and forearms and rub for 2 mins; rinse thoroughly; dry with a sterile towel.

Patient preoperative showering

As close as possible to the time of surgery:
- Wet the whole body including hair; apply the solution and rub until the foam is white;. Start at the head and move down, finishing with the feet.
- Leave in contact a few minutes and rinse; dry with a clean towel; put on clean clothes.

Antiseptic cleansing of the surgical site

Swab for 1 or 2 mins the surgical site, using sterile gauze soaked with sterile water and solution; rinse with sterile water; dry with sterile gauze.

Antiseptic cleansing of wounds

Prepare a diluted solution:
- With 4% solution: 1 part of PVI solution + 2 parts of sterile water or sterile 0.9% NaCl
- With 7.5% solution: 1 part of PVI solution + 4 parts of sterile water or sterile 0.9% NaCl
Clean the wound; rinse thoroughly with sterile water or sterile 0.9% NaCl.

Do not use with soap, creams, lotions, a different antiseptic (risk of incompatibility) or mercury compounds (risk of necrosis). Given the possible interactions between different antiseptics, PVI scrub solution can only be used with other PVI-based products (e.g. PVI aqueous solution).
Do not use in preterm neonates or neonates < 1500 g and use with caution in full-term neonates and patients with extensive wounds or thyroid dysfunction (increased risk of systemic iodine absorption and thyroid dysfunction).
May cause: thyroid dysfunction in susceptible patients, skin dryness and irritation with frequent use; rarely, hypersensitivity reactions.
In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water (risk of eye damage).
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: use with caution and only if clearly needed (passage through the placenta and breast milk, risk of fetal or infant thyroid dysfunction). Avoid repeated use and application on large areas.

– Below 25 °C