Prophylactic povidone iodine in minor wounds

A total of 628 patients requiring sutures for minor wounds in an accident and emergency unit was included in a controlled trial using povidone iodine dry powder spray (Disadine DP) as prophylaxis against wound infection. In patients with injuries of the forearm and hand there was a statistically significant reduction in infection rate (P less than 0.02). Povidone iodine spray was found to be an effective, simple to use, not toxic, antiseptic prophylactic agent.