Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Cocuk Sagligi ve Hastaliklari Dergisi, cilt.42, sa.4, ss.459-467, 1999 (Scopus)
Topical silver nitrate (1%), erythromycin (0.5%), and tetracycline (1%), are recommended for prophylaxis of neonatal conjunctivitis, although there is no consensus on the ideal prophylactic agent. However these drugs are not widely available in Turkey. Recent studies indicate that 2.5 percent povidone-iodine solution, widely available and less expensive, may also be useful in preventing neonatal conjunctivitis. We conducted a prospective, controlled trial involving 499 infants born over a period of six months in our hospital. Shortly after birth infants received a 2.5 percent solution of povidone-iodine (n=282, group 1); group 2 (n=217, group 2) did not. Conjunctival specimens were obtained from both groups for detection of bacteria when clinical conjunctivitis was present. A smear was made, stained with Gram's, and observed for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. For chlamydial serology, a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit (Chlamifast test) was used. Sixty- two (12.3%) of the neonates had infectious conjunctivitis and 21 (33.8%) had positive cultures. Neither Neisseria gonorrhoeae nor Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in any of the neonates with clinical conjunctivitis. The two groups were not significantly different in respect of route of delivery, presence of clinical conjunctivitis and positive culture results. Povidone- iodine did not cause chemical conjunctivitis any of the treated neonates (group 1). The use of povidone-iodine as a topical prophylactic agent appears promising, particularly in developing countries, although larger clinical controlled studies are required to determine its efficacy and safety.