Engineering Commons^™

Does Hypochlorous Acid Accelerate The Degradation Of Absorbable Sutures, Stephen Pinnock, Anton Bowden

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Patients who undergo surgery may experience infection in the surgical site due to bacteria with a biofilm phenotype. This biofilm can render the bacteria resilient to standard antibiotics and the wound must be disinfected with an antimicrobial solution. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a commonly used surgical antimicrobial used to disinfect these surgical sites. However, there is uncertainty as to whether the HOCl affects the stiffness and strength of the remaining sutures. These sutures are typically absorbable and need to maintain their integrity for the wound to heal properly. The purpose of this mentored research was to determine the effects of …