ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate the in-vitro susceptibility of bacterial isolates from the cases of corneal ulcer to povidone iodine. Setting: Department of ophthalmology, and clinical microbiology research center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Patients and The in-vitro susceptibility and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration [MIC] of the bacteria isolated from the cornea of 50 cases of bacterial corneal ulcer to povidone iodine was determined by broth dilution method. Concentrations of 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% of povidone iodine were tested. Bacterial isolates included 50% S. epidermidis, 20% P. aerogenosa, 10% S. aureus, 4% Acintobacter, 4% S. pneumoniae, 4% E-coli, 2% Proteous, 2% S. viridance, 2% Diphtheroid and 2% Bacillous. Povidone iodine bactericidal efficacy for gram positive bacteria was at least 82.36%, 91.2%, 100% and 100% in 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% concentrations after 5 minutes exposure time. The bactericidal efficacy of this agent over the gram negative bacteria was at least 62.5%, 87.5%, 100% and 100% in 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% concentrations after 5 minutes exposure time, respectively. Povidone iodine was shown to have a broad spectrum in- vitro bactericidal efficacy in cases of bacterial keratitis. If further invivo studies confirm the efficacy of this agent over the bacterial keratitis, it would be suggested as a broad spectrum medication for the treatment of these cases