Effect of 1% Povidone-iodine for Ophthalmia Neonatorum Prophylaxis

It has been reported that 2.5% povidone-iodine solution was an effective antimicrobial agent on the conjunctivae of newborns and caused less toxicity than silver nitrate eye drops. The effectiveness and the safety of 1% povidoneiodine solution, a lower concentration solution, were evaluated on ophthalmia neonatorum prophylaxis. A bacterial culture was taken from each conjunctiva of 70 neonates within 30 minutes after birth. A drop of each of the two agents, which were randomly chosen among 1% povidone-iodine solution, 2.5% povidone-iodine solution. and 1% silver nitrate eye drops, was placed on each conjunctiva. Conjunctival bacterial cultures were again taken two to four hours after birth. Before the first culture and at 24 hours after birth, the eyes were examined for toxic changes. To evaluate the effectiveness of the medications, the numbers of bacterial species and colonyforming units from each culture were compared. All three agents significantly reduced the numbers of species and colonyforming units(p0.7) but silver nitrate eye drop did(p<0.02). Therefore, it was found that 1% povidone-iodine solution as well as 2.5% povidone-iodine solution are effective antibacterial agents on the conjunctivae of newborns and cause less toxicity than silver nitrate eye drops.

Conjunctival Bacterial Flora at Birth: Comparisons between Cesarean Section and Vaginal Delivery

Conjunctival bacterial cultures for 113 neonates who were delivered by cesarean section or vaginal delivery were performed within 30 minutes after birth. These neonates were in the condition of no eye drops applied. The 43 newborns were delivered by cesarean section(CS group) and the 70 newborns were delivered vaginally(VD group). The 10 newborns(P1) (14 eyes(P2)) in the CS group and the 29 newborns(41 eyes) in the VD group showed culture positivity. These differences between two groups were statistically significant(p1, p2<0.05). The CS group had significantly fewer species and colony forming units cultured per subject (0.395 +/- 0.821(p3), 5.116 +/- 27.095(p4) than the VD group(0.971 +/- 1.393, 25.843 +/- 62.285) (p3,p4<0.05). Coagulase negative staphylococci were predominantly isolated in the CS group and coagulase negative staphylococci, gram positive bacilli, E. coli, nonfermenting bacilli, and S. aureus in the VD group. Therefore it was found that the conjunctiva of the newborns delivered by cesarean section bore significantly fewer bacteria and need less prophylactic measures than that of newborns delivered vaginally.

Mitomycin C Single Soaking during Surgery for Primary Pterygium

Complications of mitomycin C soaking method during pterygium surgery and its effect on recurrence rate were compared with postoperative use of topical mitomycin C. Sixty three patients(seventy three eyes) with primary pterygium received surgery with the bared sclera method. Thirty nine eyes randomly chosen were treated with cotton applicator soaked with 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C for 5 minutes after the excision of pterygium(soaking group). Thirty four eyes underwent the same surgical procedure and received topical 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C postoperatively, twice a day for five days(eye drop group). During the mean follow-up period of 13 months, recurrence rate was 15.4%(6 eyes) in soaking group and 20.6%(7 eyes) in eye drop group respectively. This difference was not statistically significant(p>0.5). There were no specific complications related to mitomycin C treatment in both groups during the follow-up periods. The soaking method of 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C was found as effective and safe as postoperative use of topical 0.2mg/ml mitomycin C for prevention of the recurrence of primary pterygium.