Commercial and Homemade Extremely Dilute Hypochlorous Acid Solutions Are Bactericidal Against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli In Vitro

• Extremely dilute solutions of hypochlorous acid are bactericidal in vitro.
• A homemade solution works as same as a commercial solution, at much lower cost.
• Homemade solutions are easily prepared and stable.
• Such solutions may have potential application for treating a variety of conditions.

A commercially available extremely low concentration of hypochlorous acid solution (HClO, 0.011%) sold over the counter for wound care in horses completely inhibits growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro when in solution. A homemade solution of equivalent concentration of hypochlorous acid (HClO, 0.012%) equally inhibits the two organisms tested, at a much lower cost. Such solutions may have wide potential applications in equine medicine.