Antibacterial Effect of Hypochlorous Acid Solution on Nasal Discharge from Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

PURPOSE: The antibacterial effect of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) solution on nasal secretion of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five swab specimens were collected from the middle meatus of CRS patients. The first one was placed directly in a Thanswab tube while all of the others were placed randomly into 4 glass tubes containing either HOCl solution, normal saline (NS), 75% alcohol, or povidone-iodine (PVPI) solution for one minute in the first part and for 5 minutes in the second part of the study before transfer to a Thanswab tube. RESULTS: Bacteria were cultured from 27 of 50 specimens when they were put directly in a Thanswab tube and from 26 after soaking in HOCl solution, 27 in NS, 13 in 75% alcohol, and 25 in PVPI solution for one minute. In the second part of the study, bacteria were cultured from 14 of 32 specimens when they were put directly in a Thanswab tube and from 14 after soaking in HOCl solution, 13 in NS, 3 in 75% alcohol, and 11 in PVPI solution for 5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that HOCL solution did not exert an antibacterial effect on nasal secretion from CRS patients within 5 minutes.