Abstract
Background and Objectives: Most cases of postoperative endophthalmitis are due to the conjunctival and pulpebral bactcrial flora, and therefore many of the prophylactic measures are aimed at decreasing the number of normal ocular bacterial flora. This study aimed at comparing the effect of single dose of ciprofloxacin 0.3% and povidone-iodine 5% on the conjunctival bacterial flora before the cataract surgery.
Materials and Methods: A total of 130 eyes from 130 patients whom underwent cataract surgery were enrolled in this study. After cultures were taken from conjunctival fornix, these were randomly divided into three groups: one drop of ciprofloxacin 0.3%, povidone-iodine 5% and normal saline was applied in the eyes of groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Thereafter, the second culture was taken from all the eyes. For each group, the number of colony counts was compared between initial and the second cultures.
Results: In the initial cultures, the most common isolated organism was coagulase negative staphylococci found in 51 cases (39%). The mean reduction in colony forming units (CFUs) by povidone iodine, ciprofloxacin and normal saline was 4.16±15.94, 6.66±17.78 and 5.34±16.25, respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean reduction in the three studied groups (P=0.13).
Conclusion: Application of one drop of ciprofloxacin 0.3%, povidone-iodine 5% and normal saline as a placebo was similarly effective in reducing the conjunctival bacterial colonization. Therefore, these regimens may not be considered as a quick prophylaxis.