PVP-I Gargles: A Promising Antiseptic Shield against Whooping Cough

Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, poses a significant threat to respiratory health in both children and adults. The present study investigated the bactericidal effectiveness of four antiseptics: povidone–iodine (PVP-I), benzethonium chloride (BEC), chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), and benzalkonium chloride (BAC)—against B. pertussis ATCC9797 and clinical isolates.

Among the topical antiseptics investigated, PVP-I and BAC exhibited notably high bactericidal activity, contrasting with the relatively low activity observed for CHG. Furthermore, the PVP-I gargle demonstrated robust bactericidal efficacy, similar to topical PVP-I, while the BEC gargle exhibited diminished bactericidal activity.

These findings highlight the potential utility of topical PVP-I, as well as PVP-I gargle, as effective antiseptics in fighting B. pertussis.

Reference-

Suzuki T, Kataoka H, Ida T, Mikuniya T, Suzuki T, Kamachi K. Bactericidal activity of topical antiseptics and their gargles against Bordetella pertussis. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy. 2011;18(2):272-275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-011-0312-4