Hypochlorous Acid: A Novel Agent Against Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces

Objective: We aimed to determine the scolicidal effect of hypochlorous acid and its efficiency at different concentrations. Materials and Methods: We tested the effectiveness of hypochlorous acid in -vitro on sterile gauze at different concentrations in test tubes. In addition, we compared its effectiveness with the scolicidal activity of other agents, povidone-iodine 10% and chlorhexidine-gluconate 0.04%. Results: Hypochlorous acid was 100% effective in 5 minutes at 1/1 (200 ppm/mL), 1/10 (20 ppm/mL), and 1/100 (2 ppm/mL) concentrations and in 10 minutes at 1/1000 (0.2 ppm/ mL) concentration. Povidone-iodine 10%, and chlorhexidine-gluconate 0.04% were studied undiluted and were effective at all study times. Hypochlorous acid maintained the same scolicidal activity on gauze at all study times at the described dilutions. Conclusion: Hypochlorous acid is an effective scolicidal agent in 5 minutes at even 1/100 concentrations. In addition, it maintains the same scolicidal activity on gauze used in surgery to wall the surgical site.