Antimicrobial Mechanism of Salt/Acid Solution on Microorganisms Isolated from Trimmed Young Coconut

An objective comparative study of non-surgical cleansing techniques and cleanser types in bacterial burden management

Cleansing is a vital component of effective wound hygiene and biofilm management, often accomplished through vigorous mechanical action or through soaking with moistened gauze. In the present study, a quantitative comparison of the effectiveness of different cleansing techniques and solutions in removing bacteria was conducted on 71 chronic wounds using bacterial fluorescence imaging as a real-time diagnostic for moderate to high bacterial loads. Vigorous gauze cleansing for 30 s proved most effective by reducing bacterial fluorescence by 33.99%, surpassing 10-min soaking in bacterial reduction (13.24%). Among different cleansers, no statistically significant differences in effectiveness were observed, but povidone-iodine showed the strongest trend towards bacterial reduction. Sub-analysis highlighted the superiority of antiseptic cleansers over saline and gentle soap (-33.30% vs. -1.80% bacterial reduction respectively). Five percent acetic acid was also shown to be more effective in removing specific bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Findings from studies like this contribute to refining wound hygiene guidelines and clinical algorithms for bacterial and biofilm management.

Efficacy of a New Alcohol-Free Organic Acid-Based Hand Sanitizer against Foodborne Pathogens

In light of the global health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous experts have deemed the utilization of hand sanitizers imperative as a precautionary measure against the virus. Consequently, the demand for hand sanitizers has experienced a substantial surge. Since the beginning of 2020, the utilization of alcohol-free hand sanitizers has been increasingly favored due to the potential risks associated with alcohol poisoning, flammability, as well as the adverse effects on skin lipid dissolution, dehydration, and sebum reduction, which can lead to severe cases of eczema and norovirus infections. In this study, we developed an aqueous hand sanitizer that does not contain alcohol. The sanitizer consists of naturally occurring, food-grade organic acids, including lactic, citric, and azelaic acids. Additionally, food-grade ammonium sulfate and a small amount of povidone-iodine (PVPI) were included in the formulation to create a synergistic and potent antibacterial effect. The effectiveness of the hand sanitizer was evaluated against four common foodborne pathogens, namely Clostridium botulinum, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, via in vitro testing. The organic acids exhibited a synergistic inhibitory function, resulting in a 3-log reduction in CFU/mL. Furthermore, the presence of povidone-iodine and ammonium sulfate enhanced their antibacterial effect, leading to a 4-log reduction in CFU/mL. The hand sanitizer solution remained stable even after 60 days of storage. During this period, the detection of additional triiodide (I3-) ions occurred, which have the ability to release broad-spectrum molecular iodine upon penetrating the cell walls. This alcohol-free hand sanitizer may offer extended protection and is anticipated to be gentle on the skin. This is attributed to the presence of citric and lactic acids, which possess cosmetic properties that soften and smoothen the skin, along with antioxidant properties.