HOCl-producing Electrochemical Bandage is Active in Murine Polymicrobial Wound Infection.

Wound infections, exacerbated by the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, necessitate innovative antimicrobial approaches. Polymicrobial infections, often involving and methicillin-resistant (MRSA), present formidable challenges due to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent antimicrobial agent produced naturally by the immune system, holds promise as an alternative therapy. An electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) that generates HOCl was evaluated for treatment of murine wound biofilm infections containing both MRSA and with "difficult-to-treat" resistance. Previously, the HOCl-producing e-bandage was shown to reduce wound biofilms containing alone. Compared to non-polarized e-bandage (no HOCl production) and Tegaderm only controls, the polarized e-bandages reduced bacterial loads in wounds infected with MRSA plus (MRSA: vs Tegaderm only - 1.4 log CFU/g, p = 0.0015, vs. non-polarized - 1.1 log CFU/g, p = 0.026. : vs Tegaderm only - 1.6 log CFU/g, p = 0.0015, vs non-polarized - 1.6 log CFU/g, p = 0.0032), and MRSA alone (vs Tegaderm only - 1.3 log CFU/g, p = 0.0048, vs. non-polarized - 1.1 log CFU/g, p = 0.0048), without compromising wound healing or causing tissue toxicity. Addition of systemic antibiotics did not enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of e-bandages, highlighting their potential as standalone therapies. This study provides additional evidence for the HOCl-producing e-bandage as a novel antimicrobial strategy for managing wound infections, including in the context of antibiotic resistance and polymicrobial infections.