The use of pre-procedural rinses has been investigated to reduce the number of viral
particles and bacteria in aerosols, potentially decreasing the risk of cross-infection
from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during medical and
dental procedures. This review aims to confirm whether there is evidence in the literature
describing a reduction in salivary load of SARS-CoV-2 when povidone-iodine (PVP-I)
is used as a pre-intervention mouthwash. An search of the MEDLINE, Embase, SCOPUS,
and the Cochrane library databases was conducted. The criteria used followed the PRISMA®
Statement guidelines. Randomized controlled trials investigating the reduction of
salivary load of SARS-CoV-2 using PVP-I were included. Ultimately, four articles were
included that met the established criteria. According to the current evidence, PVP-I
is effective against SARS-CoV-2 in saliva and could be implemented as a rinse before
interventions to decrease the risk of cross-infection in healthcare settings.
