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.