The efficacy of 5% povidone-iodine for 3 minutes prior to cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of 3 minutes of 5% povidone-iodine for skin and conjunctival antisepsis prior to cataract surgery as recommended by the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.


METHODS
A prospective controlled study of 54 patients undergoing unilateral cataract surgery by phacoemulsification was undertaken. The eye undergoing surgery was prepared with 5% povidone-iodine for 3 minutes. The other eye served as control. Swabs were taken from both eyes prior to application of 5% povidone-iodine and 3 minutes after. Proportion of culture-positive swabs, mean number of species, and growth of isolates on culture were compared at different times and between the two groups.


RESULTS
Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) was the main species isolated from culture-positive swabs. Use of 5% povidone-iodine for 3 minutes resulted in a statistically significant reduction in proportion of culture-positive swabs (87% vs 30%, p<0.001), mean number of species (0.96-/+0.47 vs 0.30-/+0.46, p<0.001), and growth of CoNS (heavy: 30% vs 0%, moderate: 23% vs 6%, light: 47% vs 94%, p=0.004). No such changes were observed in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of 5% povidone-iodine for 3 minutes prior to cataract surgery achieves a significant reduction in organisms such as CoNS from lid and conjunctival flora.
Carrim
Zia I
ZI
Department of Ophthalmology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow - Scotland. zia.carrim@doctors.org.uk
Mackie
Gordon
G
Gallacher
Grace
G
Wykes
William N
WN
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005143:Eyelids / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine