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• O b je ctive: Antiseptics are widely used in wound management to prevent o r treat wound infections
due to their proven wound healing properties regardless of their cytotoxicity.The objective o f this
study was to determine the bactericidal effects of three antiseptics on pathogens known to cause
wound infections.
• M ethod: The study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital and a university microbiology
laboratory in Sri Lanka in 20l3.The three acids (acetic acid, ascorbic acid and boric acid) in increasing
concentration (0.5%, 0.75% and I %) were tested against bacterial suspensions equivalent to 0.5
McFarland standard.The Bacteria isolates used were isolated from wound and standard strains of
Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Results: There were 33 (68.8%) Coliforms, 10 (20.8%) Pseudomonas species, and 5 (10.4%) strains of
Staphylococcus aureus Acetic acid at concentration of 0.5% inhibited growth of 37 (77%) and 42 (87.5%)
of tested isolates when exposed for 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. However 100% inhibition was
achieved at four hours.At a Concentration of 0.75%, 40 (83.3%) and 44 (91.7%) were inhibited when
exposed for 30 and 60 minutes, respectively, with 100% inhibition at 4 hours. A t concentration of I %, 46
(95.8%) inhibition was seen at 30 minutes and 100% inhibition at 60 minutes.
Ascorbic acid, at 0.5% and 0.75 % concentrations, inhibited growth of 45(93.7%) and 47(97.9%) of
isolates respectively when exposed for 30 m inutes.At these two concentrations, 100% inhibition was
achieved when exposed for one hour. At 1% concentration, 100% inhibition was achieved at 30 minutes.
Boric acid did not show bactericidal effect at concentrations of 0.5%, 0.75 % and I %. Pseudomonas
species were inhibited at 30 minutes by 0.5% acetic acid. Bactericidal effect against all the standard
strains was seen with three acids at each concentration tested from 30 minutes onwards
• C o n clu sio n : Ascorbic acid was bactericidal for all organisms tested within the shortest exposure time
at the lowest concentration compared to other two acids. Despite promising bactericidal effects, further
studies warrant, as ongoing debates on toxicity of acids on tissue epithelialisation. Application of
antiseptics for a shorter duration could overcome this problem without losing bactericidal activity.
• D e clara tio n o f in te re st: The authors have no conflict of interest and no funding was received for
this study.
