Abstract
Purpose: Iodine has been used for the prevention or management of wound infection as a topical agent. Although iodine was widely used mainly by Betadine$^{(R)}$ and cadexomer iodine, there was no comparative study on the efficacies of dressing methods of iodine. And also it's wound healing effect was not yet clear. The purpose of this study is to compare antibacterial effects and wound healing effects associated with various dressing methods of iodine on infected full thickness skin defect in the mouse. Methods: One full thickness skin defects in the mice (n=60) were developed on the back and left open for twenty-four hours. Sixty mice were divided into four groups : group S (dressing with Betadine$^{(R)}$ soaking, n=15), group T (dressing with Betadine$^{(R)}$ topping, n=15), group I (dressing with Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, n=15), group G (control group, dressing with dry gauze, n=15). The size of the wound defects and the grades of wound healing were evaluated in 4, 7, 10 days, and antibacterial effect was evaluated with restricted zone in Mueller Hinton agar by disk diffusion method. Results: After the wound was left open for twenty-four hours, many Staphylococcus aureus were cultured. The wound defect size was decreased in order of Betadine$^{(R)}$ soaking, Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, Betadine$^{(R)}$ topping and gauze dressing group in all days, but difference among experimental groups was not statistically significant. The grade score of wound healing was increased in order of Betadine$^{(R)}$ soaking, Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, Betadine$^{(R)}$ topping and gauze dressing group, and the difference was statistically significant. Antibacterial effect for S. aureus was increased in order of Iodosorb$^{(R)}$, Betadine$^{(R)}$ soaking, Betadine$^{(R)}$ topping and gauze dressing group, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Selection of the effective dressing method of iodine for infected wounds remains a controversial decision. According to this study, Iodosorb$^{(R)}$ may be most effective method for antibacterial effect and Betadine$^{(R)}$ soaking may be most effective method for infected wound healing. However, further study is necessary to evaluate the clinical efficacy of dressing methods of iodine and to search for the mechanisms that explain their effects.
