title: Preoperative ocular disinfection by the use of povidone-iodine 5%.
abstract: Numerous disinfective methods have been proposed in order to prevent intraocular infections during eye operations. In a clinical-laboratory study we evaluated the effectiveness of povidone-iodine solution 5% as a preventive - preoperative means of conjunctival antisepsis prior to ocular surgery. Conjunctival cultures were performed on 100 patients. Group A (50 patients) had their fornices washed with normal saline immediately before surgery. In Group B (50 patients) one drop of povidone-iodine solution 5% was applied prior to preoperative wash of the fornices with normal saline. Thirty-three out of 50 eyes from Group A had positive cultures (66%). Only 15 out of 50 eyes from Group B had positive cultures (30%). Bacteria flora differed in the two groups, with Group A exhibiting more dangerous strains. Preoperative-preventive disinfection with povidone-iodine 5% may prove to be advantageous to ocular surgery.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Clinic, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dereklis
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bufidis
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Tsiakiri
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Palassopoulos
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011300:Preoperative Care
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011206:Povidone-Iodine