{"DOI":"10.1186/s40463-020-00474-x","PMID":"33109269","abstract":"Abstract\n\nBackground\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns of inadvertent SARS-CoV-2 transmission to healthcare workers during routine procedures of the aerodigestive tract in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Current efforts to mitigate this risk focus on Personal Protective Equipment, including high-efficiency filtration as well as other measures.\nBecause the reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 shedding is in the nasopharynx and nasal and oral cavities, the application of viricidal agents to these surfaces may reduce virus burden. Numerous studies have confirmed that povidone-iodine inactivates many common respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-1. Povidone-iodine also has good profile for mucosal tolerance. Thus, we propose a prophylactic treatment protocol for the application of topical povidone-iodine to the upper aerodigestive tract.\n\n\nConclusion\nSuch an approach represents a low-cost, low-morbidity measure that may reduce the risks associated with aerosol-generating procedures performed commonly in otorhinolaryngology operating rooms.\n\n\nGraphical abstract\n\n","author":[{"family":"Naqvi","given":"Syed H. S."},{"family":"Citardi","given":"Martin J."},{"family":"Cattano","given":"Davide"},{"family":"Ostrosky-Zeichner","given":"Luis"},{"family":"Knackstedt","given":"Mark I."},{"family":"Karni","given":"Ron J."}],"id":"unknown","issue":"1","issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,27]]},"language":"en","page-first":"77","publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","title":"Povidone-iodine solution as SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis for procedures of the upper aerodigestive tract a theoretical framework","type":"article-journal","volume":"49"}