Betadine - Brain Food

(aka. Povidone-iodine)

Mechanism of action

Povidone iodine acts by destroying microbial protein and DNA.

This drug has excellent in vitro antimicrobial activity but is inactivated by wound exudate.

Systemic absorption of iodine, with resulting renal and thyroid dysfunction.

	Staphylococcus	Pseudomonas	Proteus	E. coli	Streptococci	Clostridium	Candida	Virus
Silver sulphadiazine	+++	+++	+++	++	+		++	+++
Mafenide	+	+++	++	++		+++	+	+
Silver nitrate	+++	++					N
Nitrofurazone	++	+	+++	++	+++	+++	N	N
Chlorhexidine	+++	++	++	+++			+	+++
Povidone iodine	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++	+++
+++ = excellent activity; ++ = active; + some activity N = no activity

Table III - Antimicrobial activity