OBJECTIVE:To eualuate in vitro antibacterial activities of silver nitrate and povidone-iodine for preventing ophthalmia neonatorum. METHODS:Minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) and mininmal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were deter-mined by double broth dilution method. RESULTS:For Stapanrens Streppnenmonia and N gonorhveae,the MIC50 of silver nitrate were＜4～8μg.ml－1 and its MIC90 were 8～32μg.ml－1.The MIC50 of povidone-iodine were64～256μg.ml－1 and its MBC90were 512 μg.ml-1. CONCLUSION: Silver nitrate and povidone-iodine exhibited activities against common pathogens of ophthalmia neonatorum isolates.Silver nitrate was more active than povidone-iodine.