Final answer:
Betadine is a skin disinfectant used to prevent infection. It is commonly used as a topical antiseptic before surgery and has other applications such as wound and burn treatment. Betadine works by oxidizing cellular components and destabilizing macromolecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Betadine is a skin disinfectant used to prevent infection. It is a solution of the iodophor povidone-iodine, which works by oxidizing cellular components and destabilizing macromolecules. Betadine is commonly used as a topical antiseptic on a patient's skin before surgery to reduce the number of microbes. It is also used for wound and burn treatment, prevention of eye infections in newborns, and as an antibacterial in catheters and bandages.