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1 May 2026Drugs for external use and antisepticsSource update: January 2026

Povidone iodine 4% or 7.5%, scrub solution

Povidone iodine scrub-solution guidance for surgical hand scrubbing, preoperative cleansing, and wound cleansing.

This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.

Therapeutic action

Antiseptic.

Indications

  • Surgical handscrubbing.
  • Surgical skin preparation (i.e. patient preoperative showering and antiseptic cleansing of the surgical site).
  • Antiseptic cleansing of wounds.

Forms and strengths

4% or 7.5% povidone iodine (PVI) antimicrobial soap (scrub solution).

Use

Surgical handscrubbing

There are different protocols, for information:

  • Wet hands and forearms; apply 5 ml of solution on hands and forearms and rub for 1 or 2 minutes (i.e. 30 seconds or 1 minute for each side); scrub the nails of each hand for 30 seconds; rinse.
  • Apply 5 ml of solution again on hands and forearms and rub for 2 minutes; rinse thoroughly; dry with a sterile towel.

Patient preoperative showering

As close as possible to the time of surgery:

  • Wet the whole body including hair; apply the solution and rub until the foam is white. Start at the head and move down, finishing with the feet.
  • Leave in contact a few minutes and rinse; dry with a clean towel; put on clean clothes.

Antiseptic cleansing of the surgical site

Swab for 1 or 2 minutes the surgical site, using sterile gauze soaked with sterile water and solution; rinse with sterile water; dry with sterile gauze.

Antiseptic cleansing of wounds

Prepare a diluted solution:

  • With 4% solution: 1 part of PVI solution plus 2 parts of sterile water or sterile 0.9% NaCl.
  • With 7.5% solution: 1 part of PVI solution plus 4 parts of sterile water or sterile 0.9% NaCl.
  • Clean the wound then rinse thoroughly with sterile water or sterile 0.9% NaCl.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

  • Do not use with soap, creams, lotions, a different antiseptic or mercury compounds. Given the possible interactions between different antiseptics, PVI scrub solution can only be used with other PVI-based products (e.g. PVI aqueous solution).
  • Do not use in preterm neonates or neonates under 1500 g and use with caution in full-term neonates and patients with extensive wounds or thyroid dysfunction.
  • May cause thyroid dysfunction in susceptible patients, skin dryness and irritation with frequent use, and rarely hypersensitivity reactions.
  • In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water.
  • Pregnancy and breast-feeding: use with caution and only if clearly needed. Avoid repeated use and application on large areas.

Source

MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)

This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.

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