Which has better disinfecting effects, hydrogen peroxide or iodophor?

Hydrogen peroxide solution, also known as hydrogen dioxide solution, generally cannot be simply compared with povidone-iodine solution in terms of effectiveness. Povidone-iodine is more effective for disinfection of human skin, mucous membranes, and superficial wounds, while hydrogen peroxide solution is more suitable for treating deep wounds and heavily contaminated wounds. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Povidone-iodine has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, effectively killing various bacteria, fungi, spores, and some viruses. It has relatively low irritation and does not cause additional damage to the skin, making it especially suitable for wound disinfection, particularly on skin mucous membranes and superficial wounds. No de-iodination is required after disinfection with povidone-iodine, and it does not lead to skin pigmentation. Povidone-iodine can be selected for situations such as everyday skin abrasions, skin disinfection before and after surgery, and disinfection of oral mucosa.

Hydrogen peroxide solution is a strong oxidizing agent that creates an oxidative environment by releasing oxygen, thereby exerting a certain microbicidal effect on various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is especially effective against anaerobic bacteria and particularly useful for deep wounds and heavily contaminated wounds. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide solution has strong cleaning properties, effectively removing dirt and bacteria from the wound surface, thus creating a favorable environment for wound healing. Therefore, for wounds that are deep and severely infected or caused by dirty objects and are deep, it is recommended to irrigate the wound with hydrogen peroxide solution first, followed by disinfection with povidone-iodine.

When using any disinfectant, it is important to follow the correct usage methods and precautions to ensure both effectiveness and safety.