Background The 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. Because 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. Conclusion Such 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. Graphical abstract
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Prophylaxis, povidone-iodine, Betadine, Upper Aerodigestive tract, 【초록키워드】 Tolerance, protocol, COVID-19 pandemic, risk, nasal, aerosol-generating procedure, virus, SARS-CoV-1, healthcare worker, respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, Measures, nasopharynx, patients, mucosal, Asymptomatic COVID-19, Abstract, effort, prophylactic treatment, filtration, mitigate, approach, current, performed, raised, reduce, Numerous,