[Bacteriocidal effect of preoperative use of gentamicin in comparison with PVP-iodine solution]

This clinical study was designed to evaluate the difference between preoperative treatment of the conjunctiva with either gentamicin eyedrops or a half-strength povidone iodine solution. We treated 50 eyes of 50 patients who came for cataract surgery and showed bacterial growth in the first conjunctival smear with gentamicin eyedrops at 1-h intervals for at least 10 h. The second smear was taken the next day. At the same time, half strength povidone-iodine solution on was applied to the follow-eye. After 2 min the second smear was taken. With both methods a significant reduction of bacterial growth was achieved. The average number of colonies decreased from 1620 to 63 after treatment with gentamicin and from 1338 to 214 after treatment with povidone iodine. There was no significant difference between the two methods. No allergic reactions or corneal haze after application of povidone iodine were observed.