Betadine

Betadine is an antiseptic with a wide range of disinfectant uses. It can be used to prevent infections in cuts, or used to disinfect areas of skin before or after survey.

Betadine is available in liquid and powder forms.

Povidone iodine was first discovered in 1955 by a team of scientist who were looking at the anti-bacterial activity of iodine formulations.

Iodine had been discovered in 1811 by a French chemist, where it was in high demand due to its use in making gun powder. It wasn't until 1908 that iodine tinctures were first used by surgeons to sterilise human skin before operations in military field hospitals. Iodine is effective against bacteria, fungi and some protozoa.

Povidone iodine is preferred to iodine as it has less harmful side effects.

The therapeutic action of betadine occurs through the iodine component of this medicine. Iodine moves away from the povidone iodine complex and moves passively through the cell membrane of microbes such as bacteria and fungi.

Once inside the cell, iodine interacts with proteins, fatty acids and nucleotides (part of DNA). This causes rapid cell death.

As these molecules occur in all types of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses and bacterial spores, it has the ability to kill or de-active all of these pathogens.