A Comparative Study between Chitosan and Povidone Iodine as Dressing Solution for Chronic Wounds

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of chitosan with povidone iodine as a dressing material in diabetic foot and venous ulcers. Material and Methods: Forty patients with diabetic foot ulcers and venous ulcers were randomized into 2 groups; group (A) chitosan based dressing (n=20patients) and group (B) (n=20 patients) with povidone iodine solution 10% based dressing followed by normal saline as a control group. Results: In group (A), the mean duration of wound healing was 75 days (range45-90 days). In group (B), the mean duration of wound healing was 100 days (range 75-120 days) p 0.05. Conclusion: In this study, we found that in chitosan based dressings, the wound healing was faster than with povidone iodine dressings resulting in a shorter hospital stay and lower cost comparison to povidone iodine dressing.