Combination of slightly electrolyzed water and ultraviolet light for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus-induced skin abscesses in mice by effective inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, the combined effectiveness of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and ultraviolet light-C (UV) (SAEW + UV) against infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was evaluated, both in vivo and in vitro, with a specific focus on skin abscess in mice. The superior effectiveness of the SAEW + UV combination compared to individual treatments with SAEW or UV alone was observed (P < 0.05). Notably, a significant nonlinear increase in S. aureus inactivation over time and effective chlorine concentrations was observed with the synergistic action of SAEW + UV (P < 0.05). Even in the presence of organic interference, remarkable efficacy in S. aureus eradication was demonstrated by SAEW + UV. Significantly, SAEW + UV efficiently removes S. aureus from mouse skin abscesses, leading to a reduction in bacterial load of visceral tissues, oxidative stress levels and inflammatory factors (P < 0.05). Consequently, facilitated regression of abscesses and accelerated wound healing in mice were observed. Notably, after 9 days of SAEW + UV treatment, 93.97 % wound healing rate was observed in mice, compared to the untreated model group with only 48.66 % healing achieved. These findings underscore the promising potential of SAEW + UV therapy in mitigating oxidative stress and expediting skin wound healing, owing to its effective bactericidal activity. However, to comprehensively elucidate the specific cellular signaling mechanisms involved in reducing oxidative stress, further research is imperative. In conclusion, SAEW + UV emerges as a highly promising therapeutic approach for treating skin diseases.