International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 ResearchGate Impact Factor (2018): 0.28 | SJIF (2019): 7.583 Volume 9 Issue 4, April 2020 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY The Role of Povidone Iodine Mouthwash & Nasal Spray or Drop or Inhalation for Protection (Prevention & Treatment) of Health Care Professionals as Well as Patients and Reduction of Cross Infection during Current COVID-19 Pandemic Situation Mostafa Kamal Arefin 1 , Md. Zahidul Islam 2 , Md. Shaharior Arafat Shawrave 3 , AKM Ferdous Rahman 4 , Md. Nazmul Islam 5 , Sk. Nurul Fattah Rumi 6 , Md. Abu Yusuf Fakir 7 1 MCPS, FCPS, Otolaryngologist, Dhaka Medical College Hospital 2 MCPS, FCPS, MS, Assistant Professor, Otolaryngologist, Satkhira Medical College Hospital 3 MCPS, FCPS, MS, Assistant Professor, Otolaryngologist, Dhaka Medical College Hospital 4 MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Dhaka Medical College Hospital 5 Professor, DLO, MS, Otolaryngologist& Line Director, Health Education, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) 6 Professor, Otolaryngologist, Professor & Head of ENT & Head Neck Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital 7 Professor, Otolaryngologist & Additional Director General, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Abstract: Povidone-iodine (iodine with water-soluble polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP-I) or PVP-I products for gargling the throat and spraying the nose may have a prophylatic effect during this COVID-19 outbreak. PVP-I is the proven & time trusted antiseptic agent, having best possible (99.99%) virucidal effect ((even against SARS- CoV, MERS- CoV and SARS-CoV2). (Povidone Iodine is safe for gargling as mouthwash, for inhalation or instillation as nasal spray, drop or vapour.) A protocol should be made for nasal application and oropharyngeal wash of PVP-I for the patients as well as for the health care professionals (HCP) for the prevention of disease transmission from patient to HCP or from HCP to patient. Thus the incidence of COVID-19 will be reduced. Health care professionals as well as the patient should use it prior to treat , handle or perform procedures in and around the mouth or nose regardless the patient is COVID-19 positive or not. COVID-19 positive patients should use it to reduce the viral load of aerodigestive tract. (Patients undergoing aerosol generating procedures (like suction, intubation,..) should also be treated with PVP-I.) 1. Background In the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, healthcare professionals are prone to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus more than people of any other profession (; nearly 4% of cases early in the Chinese epidemic 1 and about 12% (341 in 2850)of cases in Bangladesh are health care professionals)1. Absentism of HCPs and spread to their family members are big threats on healthcare system at this crisis period 2. Hospitalized patients of different diseases, other than COVID-19 ,have significant risk for acquiring Corona virus infection from hospital3. Nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is common in ICU or Critical care unit, as Aerosol generating procedures like- ventilation, intubation, suction ,commonly performed here and the bioaersol may represent more of a potential inoculum than by community transmission 3. Viruses often bind to receptor proteins on the surface of cells in order to entering human cells, for example, the SARS virus binds to Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 is considered as a host target for the treatment of coronavirus infection to block SARS-CoV-2 from entering host cells. ACE2 could be expressed in the oral cavity (and was highly enriched in epithelial cells. and lymphocytes also.) Moreover, among different oral sites, ACE2 expression was higher in tongue than buccal and gingival tissues. These findings indicate that the mucosa of oral cavity may be a potentially high risk route of 2019-nCov infection 4. In COVID-19 high viral load is found in saliva (when the saliva of patients was analysed at the time of admission to hospital)5. Uniquely in Japan, gargling is generally accepted and strongly recommended as a preventive measure for URTI, in addition to hand washing and the wearing of masks 6. Paper ID: SR20422033648 DOI: 10.21275/SR20422033648 1363