New Water Treatment Safely Sterilizes Pig Skin for Wound Dressings
- Authors
- Liangpeng Ge, Xiaochun Zhang, Chuan Cao, Zhaobin Gu, Zuohua Liu, Lubin Liu, Baozhong Lin
- Journal
- Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.1097/TA.0b013e318243a1dc
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Burns
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) can effectively kill germs on pigskin used for wound dressings without damaging the skin's structure, but it reduces the skin's ability to stay alive.
Key Finding
Neutral electrolyzed water successfully killed bacteria on pigskin without causing cell damage or structural changes, but significantly reduced skin viability.
Summary
Researchers tested whether neutral electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to create a disinfectant) could safely sterilize pigskin used for wound dressings. The water effectively killed bacteria on the skin and didn't damage the skin's structure or harm living cells, but it did reduce the skin's viability (ability to function as living tissue). The researchers concluded that while this method is safe and kills germs well, the treatment conditions need to be adjusted to better preserve the skin's living properties.
Practical Takeaway
This is a laboratory study on wound dressing sterilization, not on hydrogen water for human consumption. The research does not provide evidence relevant to drinking hydrogen water or its health effects. The study focuses on a specialized medical application of electrolyzed water for sterilizing surgical materials.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) is considered to be a high-level biodegradable disinfectant with sporicidal, bactericidal, and virucidal activity. It has also been reported to accelerate wound healing; thus, it is particularly attractive for the elimination or minimization…