TEMPORAL EFFICACY AND STERILITY TESTING OF POVIDONE-IODINE FROM AN OPEN BOTTLE.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Postinjection endophthalmitis is a serious ocular infection.
• Povidone-iodine (PI) is commonly used as an antiseptic in ophthalmic procedures.
• Understanding the long-term efficacy and sterility of PI solutions is crucial for preventing infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vitro sterility and antibacterial efficacy of povidone-iodine (PI) over five consecutive days.
• To assess the antimicrobial activity of PI against common bacteria implicated in postinjection endophthalmitis.

Main Methods:

• A single bottle of PI was opened and subjected to daily sterility testing on blood agar plates for five days.
• Antibacterial efficacy was tested by applying PI to bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus) and observing zones of inhibition.
• Both sterility and efficacy tests were repeated daily for five consecutive days.

Main Results:

• No microbial growth was observed on blood agar plates during the five days of sterility testing.
• Consistent zones of inhibition, indicating antibacterial activity, were observed where PI was applied to bacterial plates each day.
• Povidone-iodine demonstrated sustained antimicrobial effectiveness against tested bacterial species throughout the study period.

Conclusions:

• Povidone-iodine in an open bottle maintained its sterility and antibacterial efficacy for five days.
• These findings suggest that repeated use of the same PI bottle is safe and effective.
• The study supports potential cost savings and waste reduction in retina practices through the continued use of an opened PI bottle.