Personal Protective Equipment To Prevent COVID Infections
These days, it's fairly common place to use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a mask or a face shield, to avoid contracting the COVID virus.
We all know that it's important to wash your hands often to help reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the disease. And most of us go a step further with measures like using hand sanitizer and maintaining distance when out in public.
Some people in higher risk occupations are even going as far as showering and changing their clothes before returning home.
Yet many people are still wondering what more they can do to not get infected with COVID.
Povidone Iodine Nasal Spray
Early research shows that people can also use a simple povidone (PVP-I) solution in the form of a nasal spray or mouthwash to kill the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) before it has a chance to develop into a full COVID infection.
Antiseptic products containing PVP-I have proven effective against previous coronaviruses, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
A povidone iodine solution has shown to reduce viral activity up to 99.99% against SARS-CoV-2 in in-vitro assays. Typically, it can work to destroy the virus that causes COVID-19 in 30 seconds or less.
A team of researchers conducted a study and discovered that, at concentrations of up to 1.25% in the nose and up to 2.5% in the mouth, a PVP-I solution is effective at killing the novel coronavirus.
They even suggest that "the use of PVP-I products can augment health and hygiene measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community."
The findings were further backed by more research, leading one top pharmaceutical company executive to say:
"We know that we must continue to be vigilant in stopping the spread of COVID and measures, such as hand hygiene, wearing a mask, social distancing and using antiseptic, products may all play an important role."
How To Include A Povidone Iodine Nasal Spray Into Your PPE?
The three main areas of the body the novel coronavirus is most likely to infect are the eyes, nose, and mouth.
To those high risk areas, a PVP-I solution can only be effectively administered intranasally through the nose as a nasal safe mist or spray or orally as a mouthwash.
Of course, before using povidone iodine solutions or any other treatments, it's important to check with your healthcare professional to determine if it's right for you.
By using a nasal safe povidone iodine nasal rinse when you’re at high risk of exposure, you may be able to kill the novel coronavirus before an infection takes place.
In some countries, like Canada, similar types of sprays and mouthwashes can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies to prevent colds and other infections.
Unfortunately, in the US, these options are not available at the pharmacies.
Instead, a nasal safe PVP-I solution could be administered intranasally with the use of a nasal nebulizer, by jetting it in mist form deep into the sinuses.
A PVP-I nasal spray may not be the silver bullet we’ve all been waiting for to put an end to the pandemic. But it has shown to be highly effective at killing the novel coronavirus within seconds of its application in early in-vitro (performed outside of a living organism) studies.
Of course, always consult with your Doctor on the appropriate medication and treatment for COVID-19 or any other disease.
