Feasibility study of the sterilization of pigskin used as wound dressings by neutral electrolyzed water.
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 of the microbial population of skin grafts to be used as wound dressings.


METHODS
Pigskins were sterilized with different concentrations of NEW and with different methods. The feasibility of pigskin sterilization by NEW was evaluated through microbiological analyses, viability assays, histologic assessments, contact cytotoxicity assays, and extract cytotoxicity assays.


RESULTS
NEW has strong bactericidal effects on pigskin microorganisms, does not change skin graft histologic properties, and has no cytotoxicity; however, skin viability was significantly reduced after NEW treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Although NEW treatment is a very safe and effective method for nonviable pigskin dressing sterilization, to obtain a complete sterilization of pigskin grafts, available chlorine concentration of NEW as well as sterilization time and methods should be optimized.
Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing, China. geliangpeng1982@163.com
Liangpeng
L
Ge
Xiaochun
X
Zhang
Chuan
C
Cao
Zhaobin
Z
Gu
Zuohua
Z
Liu
Lubin
L
Liu
Baozhong
B
Lin
D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001458:Bandages; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013552:Swine; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
D004202:Disinfectants; D014867:Water