Povidone-iodine: An effective solution to reduce nasal bacterial load

A single application of a Povidone-iodine antiseptic effectively reduces nasal bioburden and pathogens without disrupting mucociliary function or the microbiome.

To study the impact of nasal decolonization solution on the nasal microbiome by focusing on povidone-iodine's effectiveness in reducing bacterial load.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 50 volunteers split into two equal groups: one using a povidone-iodine nasal solution and the other using a control. Nasal swabs were collected at baseline and 5 minutes, 2 hours, and 24 hours post-application which underwent next-generation sequencing and culture analysis.

Baseline analysis revealed notable bacterial associations, including species like Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus.

The bacterial load was greatly reduced after the use of the povidone-iodine solution. Key affected species included Staphylococcus, Cutibacterium acnes and Corynebacterium species. No adverse effects or changes in mucociliary clearance were reported.

Applying povidone-iodine to the nasal cavity effectively and temporarily reduces bacterial load, proving to be a safe and efficient method for nasal decolonization.