New Clinical Applications of Electrolyzed Water: A Review

Abstract

As the situation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still deteriorating, there has been a huge increase in the demand and use of disinfectants. Electrolyzed water (EW), as a novel broad-spectrum disinfectant and cleaner, has been widely used for several years. EW can be produced in an electrolysis chamber which contains dilute salt and tap water. It is an effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent, with several advantages such as on-the-spot, cheap, environmentally friendly and safe for human beings. Therefore, EW holds potential significance for high-risk settings in hospitals and other clinical facilities. EW can also be applied for wound healing, advanced tissue care, and dental clinics. The present review article highlights the latest developments and new perspectives of EW, especially in clinical fields. Furthermore, the main action modes of antibiofilm and antimicrobial will be summarized.

Electrolyzed Water Generated On-Site as a Promising Disinfectant in the Dental Office During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This is also supported by previous studies related to the effects of acidic EW on hemodialysis equipment and endoscopes, which showed that the deterioration of metals was within the normal range and no serious corrosive changes occurred after disinfection using acidic EW (34,35). Therefore, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare recommend the use of acidic EW to disinfect endoscopes (6). Other studies reported (17,36) that EW does not adversely affect stainless steel; therefore, most dental equipment, surfaces, and instruments made from stainless steel can be disinfected using EW.…”

“…EW is non-irritating to users and not corrosive to the skin, mucous membranes, or other organic materials, unlike other acidic disinfectants, such as hydrochloric acid-based disinfectants. Acidic disinfectants are very irritating to the skin and mucous membranes and can cause eye damage, or even blindness (6,17). Furthermore, formaldehyde-and glutaraldehyde-based disinfectants are noxious and cytotoxic and may pose a serious health risk in addition to adversely affecting the environment.…”

“…The first discovery and development of EW can be tracked to more than a century ago (6). In the 1950s, EW was applied in general agriculture.…”

“…EW has recently been proposed as the disinfectant of choice for coronaviruses in an oral and maxillofacial surgery office (15). Official criteria have been published describing the applications of EW in Japan, the US, the EU, and China in many fields (6).…”

“…EW can be generated in three forms: alkaline/basic EW, acidic EW, and neutralized EW. However, the most utilized form, the efficacy of which has been widely investigated, is acidic EW (6,16). The potent antimicrobial properties of acidic EW were attributed by many previous studies to be a result of free available chlorine (FAC) oxygen radicals, and reactive hydrogen, as well as low pH or the interaction/combination of these factors (17).…”