Evaluation of a new povidone-iodine-impregnated polyethylene oxide gel occlusive dressing

Forty-five surgical wounds were closed by suture technic and then treated with either a polyethylene oxide gel (POG) dressing or a povidone-iodine-impregnated polyethylene oxide gel (PVPI-POG) dressing. In the control group with the POG dressing alone, three wound infections, representing 25% of those patients, were encountered. In the PVPI-POG dressing group no wound infections were encountered. Wound healing, in terms of reduced inflammation and faster epidermal approximation, appeared better in the PVPI-POG dressing group.