Purpose: To compare the reduction of conjunctival bacterial flora by povidone -iodine 4%,ofloxacin 0.3%, and chlorhexidine 0.05%for endophthalmitis prophy laxis before corneal suture removal in an outpatient setting. Methods: In each g roup of 25 consecutive subjects who presented for outpatient ophthalmic evaluati on, one eye was treated with either povidone-iodine4%(PI), ofloxacin 0.3%(Ofl ox) or chlorhexidine 0.05%(Chex). The other eye served as a control. Three minu tes after treatment, cultures were taken from the inferior conjunctival sac in b oth eyes. Following incubation at 35°for 48 hours, the numbers of colonies were counted and compared. The difference in the numbers of colonies in each pair of treated and control eyeswas assessed for each drug and compared. Results: The r eduction in colony-formingunits was highly significant for each of the three dr ugs tested (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test; p < 0.0001). There was no significant d ifference between percent reduction by the three drugs (Kruskal-Wallis test; p= 0.68). Sterile cultures following preparation by PI, Oflox and Chex were obtaine d in 52%, 68%and 52%, respectively. Conclusions: The regimens tested were sim ilarly effective in reducing conjunctival commensals. They may all be considered as options for a quick prophylaxis against infection following suture removal i n an outpatient setting.
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