Electrolyzed Water Kills Bacteria in Burn Wounds, Improves Survival
- Authors
- Hajime Nakae, Hideo Inaba
- Journal
- The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care
- Year
- 2000
- DOI
- 10.1097/00005373-200009000-00020
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Burn Injuries
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Electrolyzed oxidized water (EOW) significantly improves survival rates and reduces infection in rats with severe burns and bacterial infection.
Key Finding
Rats with severe burn wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had significantly higher survival rates and lower bacterial toxin levels when treated with electrolyzed oxidized water compared to saline irrigation or no treatment.
Summary
This study tested whether electrolyzed oxidized water (water treated with electricity to create a disinfecting solution) could fight bacterial infections in severe burn wounds. Researchers gave rats third-degree burns covering 30% of their body, then infected the wounds with a common bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Rats treated with electrolyzed oxidized water had higher survival rates and lower levels of bacterial toxins in their blood compared to rats treated with salt water or no treatment.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing that electrolyzed oxidized water may have antibacterial properties in burn wounds. However, results from rat studies do not automatically translate to humans, and no human trials have tested this approach. Much more research, including human studies, would be needed before any conclusions could be drawn about its usefulness for burn care in people.
Abstract (excerpt)
The purpose of the study was to determine whether electrolyzed oxidized water (EOW) functions as a bactericide in burn injury with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a rat burn-wound model. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 31) were subjected to third-degree burns to 30% of total body surface…