Think saline is enough? Here's why you should think again.
Sterile saline may not be enough to eliminate harmful bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this article, we share a side-by-side video from a third-party test showing how PureCleanse™ outperforms saline—eliminating bacteria in seconds with no regrowth. See why healthcare professionals are rethinking their wound care protocols.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most stubborn and dangerous bacteria encountered in wound care. Despite this threat, many clinicians still rely on traditional irrigation solutions like sterile saline—assuming it's enough to prevent infection.
But is it?
A recent third-party experiment from the University of Guelph put sterile saline to the test against our PureCleanse™ wound solution, revealing critical differences in their ability to eliminate harmful bacteria. The results are staggering to watch in real-time.
The Experiment: Sterile Saline vs. PureCleanse™
Conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, the protocol involved two separate tests to visually observe how quickly and effectively each solution acted against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Watch the side-by-side comparison for yourself!
Test 1: Sterile Saline Application
- A small amount (4 µL or 0.004 mL) of sterile saline was applied.
- Bacteria showed some initial immobility during introduction of the solution. However, movement of the bacteria resumed within approximately 90 seconds, indicating limited effect on the elimination of bacteria present.
- These results suggest that sterile saline is not sufficient to eradicate bacterial threats completely.
Test 2: PureCleanse™ Application
- A small amount (4 µL or 0.004 mL) of PureCleanse™ Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) Wound Solution was applied.
- The bacteria exhibited near-total elimination within seconds; Visually, nearly all bacteria become immediately still and immobile.
- Unlike sterile saline in Test 1, bacterial recovery did not occur in Test 2, demonstrating the potent ability of PureCleanse™ to eliminate Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.
Why is PureCleanse™ More Effective Than Saline?
The key difference lies in the solution’s key ingredient: hypochlorous acid (HOCl). HOCl is a naturally occurring molecule produced by our body’s own immune system. When manufactured outside the body, it is also:
✔ Highly effective against bacteria
✔ Non-toxic and safe for wounds, burns, and all ages and skin types
✔ Rapid-acting mechanism of action, preventing re-growth of bacterial populations
In fact, PureCleanse™ has shown remarkable efficacy in third-party lab tests which have demonstrated a 99.9999% reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 20 seconds.¹
Implications for Wound Care
The results of this experiment suggests that relying solely on saline is unlikely to be sufficient in eliminating infection-causing bacteria.
PureCleanse™ offers a more effective solution for wound irrigation and infection control due to the presence of pure, stable hypochlorous acid. Healthcare providers should consider HOCl-based solutions like PureCleanse™ as a superior alternative to saline for the cleansing of wounds, skin and burns in clinical settings.
Is Cost a Concern?
While many products find it difficult to compete with saline purely on purchase cost, studies show that cleansing with hypochlorous acid instead of saline can lead to quite significant savings overall.
To help demonstrate this, we have published a cost analysis of the two solutions. What we uncovered is that healthcare facilities using HOCl typically saw reduced wound care time, fewer complications, and better patient outcomes—factors that contribute to overall cost effectiveness.
Click below to read more and find out why investing in superior wound care solutions not only improves the standard of care, but also makes economic sense.
Move Beyond Saline for Better Patient Care
What do these results tell us? Simply put: choosing the right wound-cleaning solution truly matters. PureCleanse™ has been scientifically proven to outperform saline, making it an excellent choice for clinicians aiming to prevent infected wounds and optimize care for their patients.
The evidence is clear: it's time to upgrade your wound cleanser.