Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is a broad-spectrum microbicide with in vitro activ
ity against bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans, A 5% solution of PVP-I
proved to be highly effective in ophthalmic surgery for the prophylaxis of
endophthalmitis. For the antiseptic treatment of eye infections a novel ap
plication form of PVP-I has been developed by using a PVP-I liposome comple
x which demonstrated an excellent antimicrobial efficacy. In this study it
could be shown that the novel liposomal formulations containing 2.5 or 5% P
VP-I were as active as the aqueous solution against herpes simplex virus ty
pe 1, adenovirus type 8, coxsackievirus A9 and Chlamydia trachomatis in cel
l culture referring to equal PVP-I concentrations. Long-term cytotoxicity e
xperiments demonstrated a moderate cytotoxicity for both formulations with
a better tolerability of the liposomal PVP-I formulation compared with the
aqueous solution. There is no evidence for a genotoxic activity of these ag
ents. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.