Povidone-iodine reduces contamination rate

A recent prospective study has shown that the repetitive irrigation of povidone-iodine of 0.25% significantly lowered bacterial contamination rate in the anterior chamber after cataract surgery.

Dr Hiroyuki Shimada and Dr Takayuki Hattori, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan, investigated the use of povidone-iodine to reduce bacteria in patients with cataracts.

The investigation involved 404 consecutive eyes - 202 eyes were filled with infusion liquid (group A) and 202 eyes were treated using povidone-iodine of 0.25%. The fluids from the anterior chamber were collected at the start and end of surgery to measure the iodide ion concentration. Bacteriologic culture was carried out using the ocular surface fluid after lid speculum placement, and anterior chamber fluid after surgery. The measurement of corneal endothelial cell density was conducted before and after surgery, using a specular microscope.

The rate of bacterial detection in ocular surface liquid demonstrated a small difference between groups A (5.5%) and B (6.0%). However, the reduction rate in anterior chamber fluid was significantly greater in group B.

To conclude, the repetitive irrigation of the anterior chamber lowered bacterial contamination to a great extent after cataract surgery.