Home-prepared saline: a safe, cost-effective alternative for wound cleansing in home care.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the rate of contamination for a normal saline solution prepared with distilled water and salt when stored at room temperature and (2) when stored under refrigerated conditions; and (3) to compare the rate of contamination for solutions prepared and stored under controlled conditions with those prepared and stored in patients' homes.


METHODS
This quasi-experimental study examined the bacterial content of saline made with distilled water and stored at room temperature and that of saline stored in a refrigerator.


METHODS
A large urban home health agency was the setting for the study.


METHODS
Eight teaspoons of table salt were added to 1-gallon jugs of distilled water purchased from a grocery store to produce a normal saline solution. Two gallons of the prepared solution were stored at room temperature (80 degrees F) and 2 were stored in a refrigerator (48 degrees F). Cultures were taken from each of the 4 bottles of prepared solution immediately following preparation and at weekly intervals until bacterial growth occurred, or 4 weeks after preparation.


RESULTS
All tested solutions were negative for bacterial growth at baseline. Cultures of the solution stored at room temperature were positive for bacterial growth 2 weeks after preparation, whereas those stored under refrigerated conditions remained free of bacterial contamination 4 weeks after preparation. Two "patient-prepared" solutions were tested at 3 weeks, and both were negative for bacteria at that time. Three patient-prepared solutions were tested at 4 weeks, of which 2 showed no bacterial growth in 48 hours, whereas 1 revealed 600 cfu/mL of Pseudomonas species.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this small study suggest that saline solutions produced by adding table salt to distilled water will remain bacteria-free for 1 month if refrigerated. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Fellows
Jane
J
Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA. janeafellows@msn.com
Crestodina
Lea
L
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004340:Drug Contamination; D016527:Drug Costs; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D018574:Home Care Agencies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D012034:Refrigeration / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012449:Safety; D017592:Skin Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013696:Temperature; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D013997:Time Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing*
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D012965:Sodium Chloride