Neonatal thyroid function is unaffected by single treatment with different preparations of povidone-iodine on a wide skin surface.

Povidone-iodine (PV-I) are commonly used for disinfection in hospitals. Previous investigators had proved that iodine can be absorbed from the skin. In an attempt to determine the effect of single treatment of various PV-I preparations on thyroid function in fullterm newborns, serial measurements of serum thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were done in 48 neonates treated with one dose antiseptics (tincture PV-I, aqueous PV-I, tincture PV-I followed with 75% alcohol and no treatment in control group). The results revealed no significant change of thyroid function in any study group. In conclusion, PV-I with different preparations, aqueous or tincture, did not significantly influence neonatal thyroid function if they were used to a fullterm neonate only once and even to a wide skin surface.