(CS-008) Efficacy of Pure Hypochlorous Acid Preserved Solution in the Treatment of Severe Perianal Contact Dermatitis in Infants

Introduction: Premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often suffer from severe perianal contact dermatitis (PCD). Multiple factors increase the risk for these painful wounds, including the immaturity of the skin, the caustic nature of the stool, alkaline breakdown products of urine, and secondary bacterial and fungal skin infections. Treatment of PCD in NICU patients has focused on the application of various barrier products to protect the skin from ongoing irritation. The author sought to determine if in addition to traditional treatment, focusing on the treatment of the wound itself might expedite healing. Pure hypochlorous acid (pHA) preserved wound cleanser solution is effective in the reduction of bioburden of wound beds¹. pHA also disrupts biofilm² and has a pH range aligned with the pH of the skin which helps in healing³. In this case series, infants with severe PCD were treated with a single daily application of pHA in combination with traditional barrier ointments and dressings. The goal was to determine if pHA might synergistically expedite PCD healing.

Methods: Ten infants with severe PCD who had shown poor response to various topical barrier ointments and dressings were recruited. Gauze dressings were saturated with pHA solution, applied directly to the affected skin, and left in place for 5-10 minutes. Thereafter, barrier ointment was reapplied to the site. The pHA was applied once daily for 7 days. Routine diaper changes and skin hygiene continued as usual. Photographs were taken for documentation.

Results: Regardless of the barrier ointment utilized, 90% of the infants showed complete resolution of the open wounds and inflammation after 7 days. One infant reached this goal after treatment was extended for 14 days. In every case, patients exhibited no signs of complications from the topical application of pHA to the skin.

Discussion: This case series illustrates the synergistic benefits of utilizing pHA wound cleanser in healing severe PCD in combination with the traditional application of barrier ointments and dressings. The addition of pHA expedited healing in patients who were unresponsive to conventional barrier treatments alone.