title: Application of 10% povidone iodine reduces conjunctival bacterial contamination rate in patients undergoing cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of 10% povidone iodine (PVI) drops given before cataract extraction in addition to routine irrigation of the conjunctival sac with 1% PVI.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomized, single-center study at the Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, includes 263 eyes of 242 patients undergoing cataract surgery. Patients were randomized to receive 3 drops of 10% PVI into the conjunctival sac (study group) or no PVI drops (control group). All patients underwent periorbital disinfection with 10% PVI followed by irrigation of the conjunctiva with 10 mL of 1% PVI. Specimens were obtained prior to the application of PVI, after antibiotic administration (T1), after irrigation with PVI but before surgery (T2), and at the conclusion of surgery (T3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After PVI disinfection, the number of positive cultures was significantly reduced in all groups (p<0.0001) from 69%-93% at T1 to 1%-16% at T3. In outpatients, the study group showed significantly fewer positive cultures at the conclusion of surgery compared to the control group (4% vs 16%; p=0.03). Also in inpatients significant fewer positive cultures were found in the study group compared to the control group at T2 (12% vs 28%; p=0.03) and at T3 (1% vs 10%; p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three additional drops of 10% PVI prior to surgery provided additional benefit by reducing the conjunctival bacterial contamination rate even in the setting of preoperative irrigation of the conjunctiva with 1% PVI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. Martin.Nentwich@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nentwich
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajab
authors.forename: Christopher N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ta
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grueterich
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haritoglou
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gandorfer
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kampik
authors.forename: Herminia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mino De Kaspar
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011206:Povidone-Iodine