Effect of 1% Povidone-iodine for Ophthalmia Neonatorum Prophylaxis

Chung, Doo Suck; Oh, Tae Wha; Moon, Nam Ju

Abstract

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(p<0.02). Two povidone-iodine solutions did not show significant ocular toxicity(p>0.7) 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.