Comparison of 0.3% Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution Against 0.3% Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution as Preoperative Ocular Disinfectant in Cataract Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Double-blind Study

Aim of the study was to compare the bactericidal efficacy of 0.3 percent ofloxacin ophthalmic solution with 0.3 percent gatifloxacin solution on conjunctival flora. It was a prospective and randomized double blind study. One hundred patients of senile cataract were admitted to undergo cataract surgery and were divided into two groups of 50 each, with topical ofloxacin solution being instilled in group I patients and topical gatifloxacin solution being instilled in group II patients, thrice a day for one day prior to surgery. Conjunctival swabs were taken from patients of both the groups before and after 24 hours of instillation of first dose of ophthalmic solution. Bacterial isolates were identified and colony forming units (CFU) were calculated. Overall decrease in median CFU count was 33.33 percent and 60 percent after instillation of ofloxacin and gatifloxacin respectively which was statistically significant (p=0.019). Preoperative prophylaxis with gatifloxacin was more effective in decreasing the human conjunctival bacterial flora. (J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 2010;27:85-9.) *Department of Microbiology, Pt.B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak (Haryana), India. **Department of Ophthalmology, Pt.B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak (Haryana), India. Received for publication: May 31, 2010. Reprint request: Dr. Ritu Aggarwal, H no.717, sector-1, Rohtak, (124001), Haryana, India. E.mail: [email protected]