Chemical Burn From Povidone-Iodine: Case and Review

April 2011 | Volume 10 | Issue 4 | Case Reports | 414 | Copyright © April 2011


Adam Rees MD, Quyn Sherrod MD, Lorraine Young MD

Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

table 2
table 3
Of particular clinical relevance from the above-cited cases and studies is the suggestion that both moisture and occlusion are critical contributors to the irritant reactions caused by PVP-I. This implies that health care personnel can take specific measures to prevent chemical burns from PVP-I. These measures are listed in Table 2.
The treatment of PVP-I burn is supportive and consistent with the standard of care for a partial thickness burn and includes antimicrobial prophylaxis with a topical agent such as silver sulfadiazine and dressings that promote healing such as petrolatum impregnated gauze or hydrocolloidal dressings such as AQUACEL or DuoDERM (ConvaTec, Skillman, NJ).21 As this eruption is primarily considered to be an irritant rather than allergic contact dermatitis, patients should be aware that they do not universally need to avoid PVP-I. However, in cases where sensitization is suspected, patch testing may be performed.

DISCLOSURES

Funding sources: None.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

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