Evaluation of the Effect of Different Antiseptic Solutions on Aerobic Bacterial Wound Infection

Background: Wound infection represents a major concern in healthcare system. Many bacterial pathogens can cause this type of infection. Alternative non-antibiotic inhibitors of these pathogens have become a major research concern. Some antiseptic agents, alone or in combination with antibiotics, can be highly effective against the causative organisms. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) displays bactericidal effects that can be employed invivo on surgical wounds to minimize certain bacterial infections. Objective: To investigate the antibacterial effect of HOCL on post-operative wound infection in comparison to common antiseptics e.g. Povidone iodine and alcohol. Methodology: This study was carried out in Medical Microbiology & Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University on fifty patients admitted to Surgical ICU, Tanta University hospital, during the period of research (June to November 2018). Seven swab samples were collected from the wound discharge of each patient. The first swab was directly put into the swab tube. Other 6 swabs were soaked into tubes containing 5 ml of either HOCl solution, 75% alcohol, and Povidone iodine solution and left for one and five minutes respectively. After which, they were subjected to bacterial culturing. Results: Among the 50 wound samples, positive cultures were obtained from 27 (54%) directly cultured samples. After soaking for one minute, HOCL soaked swabs revealed bacteria in 20 (40%) patients, those in Povidone Iodine revealed bacteria in 19 (38%) patients, 75% alcohol revealed bacteria in 6 (12%) patients. The bacterial culture results was significantly lower when the swabs were soaked in alcohol (P value>0.001). After soaking for 5 minutes, swabs in HOCl revealed bacteria in 18 (36%) patients. Swabs soaked in Povidone Iodine revealed bacteria in 18 (36%) patients while swabs in 75% alcohol revealed bacteria in 2 (4%) patients. The bacterial culture rate was significantly lower when the swabs were placed in alcohol. The culture result was lower when swabs were soaked in the 3 solutions for 5 minutes than for one minute, although this difference was non-significant. Conclusion: Hypochlorous acid has reasonable antibacterial effect on bacteria isolated from wound discharge. This effect is progressive and time dependent. It should be used for a reasonable period to observe more potent antibacterial activity.