Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has put healthcare workers at risk when exposed to aerosolized viral particles during upper airway mucosal surgery. The objective of this review was to discuss topical preparations that could be utilized preoperatively to help to decrease viral load and potentially reduce the risks of viral transmission.

 

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE database review of articles studying topical preparations with virucidal activity against coronaviruses.

 

Results: Povidone – Iodine (PVP-I) solutions ranging from 0.23% to 7% have been found to demonstrate highly effective virucidal activity against a broad range of viruses including several coronaviruses responsible for recent epidemics: SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV.