Reduction of Ocular Surface Damage and Bacterial Survival Using 0.05% Povidone-Iodine Ocular Surface Irrigation before Cataract Surgery

Conjunctival sac bacterial culture of patients using levofloxacin eye drops before cataract surgery: a real-world, retrospective study

Background

The use of antibiotics preoperatively is effective to decrease the incidence of ocular bacterial infections but may lead to high resistance rate, especially on patients with multi-risk clinical factors. This study systematically analyzed real-world data (RWD) of patients to reveal the association between clinical factors and conjunctival sac bacterial load and offer prophylaxis suggestions.

Methods

We retrieved RWD of patients using levofloxacin eye drops (5 mL: 24.4 mg, 4 times a day for 3 days) preoperatively. Retrieved data included information on the conjunctival sac bacterial culture, sex, presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM), and history of hospital-based surgeries. Data was analyzed using SPSS 24.0.

Results

RWD of 15,415 cases (patients) were retrieved. Among these patients, 5,866 (38.1%) were males and 9,549 (61.9%) females. 5,960 (38.7%) patients had a history of hypertension, and 3,493 (22.7%) patients had a history of DM. 7,555 (49.0%) patients had a history of hospital-based operations. There were 274 (1.8%) positive bacterial cultures. Male patients with hypertension and DM may be at increased risk of having positive bacterial cultures (P < 0.05). Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 56, 20.4%), Kocuria rosea (n = 37, 13.5%), and Micrococcus luteus (n = 32, 11.7%) were the top 3 isolated strains. Most bacterial strains were resistant to various antibiotics except rifampin, and 82.5% (33 of 40 isolates) of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates had multidrug antibiotic resistance. Numbers of culture-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates in the male group and non-DM group were greater than those in the female and DM groups, respectively. Micrococcus luteus (n = 11, 8.8%) was found less frequently in non-hypertension group than in hypertension group.

Conclusion

Sex (Male) and the presence of hypertension and DM are risk factors for greater conjunctival sac bacterial loads. We offer a prophylactic suggestion based on the combined use of levofloxacin and rifampin. However, this approach may aggravate risk of multidrug resistance.

Application of e-PTFE Frontalis Suspension in the Treatment of Congenital Ptosis in Children

Purpose

Analysis of the value of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) frontalis suspension applied to children with congenital ptosis.

Methods

Eighty clinical cases of children with congenital ptosis from October 2019 to October 2021 were randomly selected from our hospital. All children were divided into the observation group (n = 44) treated with e-PTFE frontalis suspension and the control group (n = 36) treated with frontalis flap suspension according to the treatment procedure. Comparison of eyelid condition [palpebral fissure height, margin reflex distance (MRD), eyelid closure time], ocular surface status [corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, tear film breakup time (TBUT), surgical eye lacrimal river height (LRH), sehirmer test I (STI)], frontal muscle strength of affected side, cosmetic results and complications in both groups at 1, 6 and 12 months postoperative follow-up.

Results

At 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery, there was no significant difference in terms of palpebral fissure height and MRD between both groups (p &gt; 0.05); After surgery, the eyelid closure time was shorter in the observation group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). At 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery, the CFS scores were lower in the observation group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05); At 6 and 12 months after surgery, the TBUT was longer and the surgical eye LRH was higher in the observation group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05); At 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery, there was no significant difference in STI between both groups (p &lt; 0.05). At 1, 6 and 12 months after surgery, the frontal muscle strength of affected side was higher in the observation group than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). At 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery, there was no significant difference in cosmetic results between both groups (p &gt; 0.05). The overall complication rate in the observation group (6.82%) was lower than that in the control group (25.00%) (p &lt; 0.05).

Conclusion

The surgical and cosmetic results of e-PTFE frontalis suspension and frontalis flap suspension applied to congenital ptosis are comparable, but the former has the advantage of faster postoperative recovery, better ocular surface status, less frontali muscle strength damage and fewer complications.

Recent advances in ophthalmic preparations: Ocular barriers, dosage forms and routes of administration

The human eye is a complex organ with unique anatomy and physiology that restricts the delivery of drugs to target ocular tissues/sites. Recent advances in the field of pharmacy, biotechnology and material science have led to development of novel ophthalmic dosage forms which can provide sustained drug delivery, reduce dosing frequency and improve the ocular bioavailability of drugs. This review highlights the different anatomical and physiological factors which affect ocular bioavailability of drugs and explores advancements from 2016 to 2020 in various ophthalmic preparations. Different routes of drug administration such as topical, intravitreal, intraocular, juxtascleral, subconjunctival, intracameral and retrobulbar are discussed with their advances and limitations.

Cataract Surgery by Intraoperative Surface Irrigation with 0.25% Povidone-Iodine

Postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery is typically caused by the patient's own conjunctival normal bacterial flora. A three-step approach is recommended to prevent endophthalmitis: (1) "border control" to prevent microorganisms from entering the eye by disinfecting the ocular surface is the most important measure; (2) bacteria that have gained access into the anterior chamber are reduced by irrigation; (3) bacteria remaining in the anterior chamber and vitreous at the end of surgery are controlled by antibacterial drugs. We have devised a method, "the Shimada technique", for irrigating the ocular surface with povidone-iodine, a disinfectant with potent microbicidal effect and established effective and safe concentrations for eye tissues. Povidone-iodine exhibits a bactericidal effect for a wide concentration range of 0.005-10%, but 0.1% povidone-iodine has the highest activity and requires the shortest time of only 15 s to achieve microbicidal effect. When used to irrigate the ocular surface every 20-30 s during cataract surgery, 0.25% povidone-iodine is conceivably diluted to around 0.1%. Irrigation with 0.25% povidone-iodine during cataract surgery significantly reduced bacteria contamination rate in the anterior chamber compared with saline (p = 0.0017) without causing corneal endothelial damage.

Comparative in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of povidone-iodine and other commercially available antiseptics against clinically relevant pathogens

Aims: Antiseptics, such as povidone-iodine (PVP-I), play an important role in infection control across a wide range of clinical settings. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative in vitro efficacy and rate of onset of action of a range of formulations of PVP-I and other commonly used antiseptics. Methods: The antimicrobial efficacy of a range of antiseptics and antimicrobial agents used for skin, wound, vagina and oral antisepsis was evaluated according to the EU Standards DIN EN1276 and EN14476. The panel of organisms tested included bacterial and fungal pathogens and two enteroviruses (Coxsackievirus A16 [CA16] and Enterovirus 71 [EV71]). Results: All PVP-I products tested were highly efficacious in vitro (>99.99% kill rate) against a range of clinically relevant bacterial and fungal pathogens with rapid onset of action (30-60 seconds), at both high and low concentrations. By comparison, the efficacy of other antiseptics tested was generally reduced upon dilution. PVP-I products used in wound and oral care were found to be more effective in vitro against CA16 and EV71, and had a faster onset of action than most other agents tested. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the in vitro efficacy of a range of commonly used antiseptics and may help inform the selection of appropriate antiseptics by healthcare professionals.

Povidone iodine treatment is deleterious to human ocular surface conjunctival cells in culture

Objective

To determine the effect of povidone iodine (PI), an antiseptic commonly used prior to ocular surgery, on viability of mixed populations of conjunctival stratified squamous and goblet cells, purified conjunctival goblet cells and purified conjunctival stromal fibroblasts in primary culture.

Methods and analysis

Mixed population of epithelial cells (stratified squamous and goblet cells), goblet cells and fibroblasts were grown in culture from pieces of human conjunctiva using either supplemented DMEM/F12 or RPMI. Cell type was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cells were treated for 5 min with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); 0.25%, 2.5%, 5% or 10% PI in PBS; or a positive control of 30% H₂O₂. Cell viability was determined using Alamar Blue fluorescence and a live/dead kit using calcein/AM and ethidium homodimer-1 (EH-1).

Results

Mixed populations of epithelial cells, goblet cells and fibroblasts were characterised by immunofluorescence microscopy. As determined with Alamar Blue fluorescence, all concentrations of PI significantly decreased the number of cells from all three preparation types compared with PBS. As determined by calcein/EH-1 viability test, mixed populations of cells and fibroblasts were less sensitive to PI treatment than goblet cells. All concentrations of PI, except for 0.25% used with goblet cells, substantially increased the number of dead cells for all cell populations. The H₂O₂ control also significantly decreased the number and viability of all three types of cells in both tests.

Conclusion

We conclude that PI, which is commonly used prior to ocular surgeries, is detrimental to human conjunctival stratified squamous cells, goblet cells and fibroblasts in culture.

Clinical Analysis: Aqueous-Deficient and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Patients With Primary Sjogren's Syndrome

Objective: To examine the time course of aqueous-deficient and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in patients with primary Sjogren's Syndrome (pSS).

Methods: This prospective study was conducted on pSS female patients in the Department of Rheumatism of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. The age-matched MGD female patients without pSS (non-SS-MGD) were recruited as MGD controls from the Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. After providing written informed consent, the patients underwent an eye examination and completed an Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire that assessed the symptoms of dry eye disease. The subjects were evaluated using Schirmer I test (SIt), tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive keratographic break-up time (NIKBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and meibomian gland evaluation (meibomian gland infrared, lid margin score, expressible meibomian glands number and the secretions quality). The patients were divided into two groups: early stage (≤3 years) and late stage (>3 years) according to their medical history of dry eye. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0.

Results: There were 49 pSS and 52 non-SS-MGD female patients enrolled in this study from 1 January 2018 to 30 December 2018. There were no differences in age (49.38 ± 10.32 and 48.69 ± 13.57 years) and dry eye medical history (48.44 ± 40.16 and 47.79 ± 37.85 months) between the two groups. When the medical history was ≤3 years, the average SIt and TMH of the pSS patients were significantly smaller than those of the patients with MGD. However, the signs related to the MGD did not show a significant difference between the two groups. When the medical history was >3 years, both the SIt and TMH and the signs related to MGD in pSS group were significantly more severe than the MGD group.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that 3 years may be an important time node for the dry eye development in pSS patients, before this, the lacrimal glands received a greater influence, and then the meibomian glands began to be greatly affected.