Fungicidal effectiveness of super-oxidized solution in vitro: potential implications for wound care

INTRODUCTION: Drug-resistant fungal infections in chronic wounds represent a major clinical challenge to clinicians. Fungal infections delay wound healing by prolonging inflammation and encouraging biofilm formation, which protects microbes against host defenses and anti-infective medications. As such, interventions that prevent and control nosocomial fungal infections without interfering with the wound healing process are increasingly required. Although conventional antiseptics can effectively exert fungicidal effects, they also have adverse effects on human cells. SOS is a well-known bactericidal agent that enhances the wound healing process, especially for chronic wounds. However, few studies have evaluated the antimicrobial activity of SOS on fungi.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether SOS exerts fungicidal activities against common fungal species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The efficacy of SOS was tested against 6 fungal species (Candida albicans, Candida auris, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Sporothrix schenckii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) using an in vitro time-kill assay.

RESULTS: SOS achieved 99.9999% reduction of all tested fungi within 1 minute of exposure.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that SOS may be an effective tool for the prevention and control of fungal infections.