Practical use of povidone-iodine antiseptic in the maintenance of oral health and in the prevention and treatment of common oropharyngeal infections

Kanagalingam, J.; Feliciano, R.; Hah, J. H.; Labib, H.; Le, T. A.; Lin, J.-C.

The status of the oral and oropharyngeal cavities, which includes the mouth and throat, is inextricably linked to the general health and well-being of an individual (1) . Colonisation by pathogenic micro-organisms or an imbalance of the physiological microbiome in the oral cavity can play an essential role in the development and perpetuation of disease (2, 3) . Indeed, viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa can give rise to many common oral and oropharyngeal conditions, as diverse as dental caries, periodontal disease, gingivitis, as well as upper respiratory tract infections such as sore throat, common cold and influenza (2) . In the hospital setting, colonisation of pathogens in the oropharyngeal region can result in more serious sequelae in intubated patients, where their spread into the lower respiratory tract can result in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (4) . This underscores the importance of exercising good mouth and throat hygiene as a means of minimising risk in the development of both community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections.