During wound irrigation, which practice could delay wound healing?

• A. Direct force of irrigation solution on wound bed.
• B. Hydrogen peroxide poured into wound.
• C. Irrigation solution cooler than room temperature.
• D. Use of povidone-iodine solution.

Answer: (D)

In wound irrigation, the goal is to clean debris without harming the tissue that’s actively healing. Povidone-iodine can delay healing because, although it’s an antiseptic, it is cytotoxic to the very cells needed for repair—fibroblasts and keratinocytes—and it can damage granulation tissue and slow epithelialization, especially with higher concentrations or longer contact times. This disrupts the tissue-building process and can lengthen healing time, which is why milder cleansing options like sterile saline are preferred for healing wounds. The other practices may irritate or mechanically injure tissue if done improperly, but they don’t interfere with the healing cells as directly as povidone-iodine does.