Povidone-iodine is also efficient against fungi and viruses (including HIV and "Herpes simplex"). It is used in pleurodesis (fusion of the pleura because of incessant pleural effusions). For this purpose, povidone-iodine is equally effective and safe as talc, and may be preferred because of easy availability and low cost. There is tentative evidence that chlorhexidine and denatured alcohol used to clean skin prior to surgery is better than povidone-iodine with alcohol; however, the evidence is not strong enough as of 2015 to determine routine practice. PVP-I is contraindicated in patients with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) and other diseases of the thyroid,
Tincture of iodine common concentration for sanitization is 25 ppm idophor for 1 minute. However, the effectiveness depends on whether the solution penetrates into rifts, and whether dirt is effectively removed at first. But, oocytes of protozoan parasites will not be killed, and it is also doubtful that bacterial spores are killed. Iodine solutions should not be considered able to sanitize or disinfect salad, fruit or vegetables that are contaminated by feces. Thus, it should not be considered safe to eat raw fruit, salads and vegetables which are sanitized with iodine, if they could be contaminated by feces. Iodine tincture is not a