3 ms·

(microbiologist) I agree on keeping it clean and avoiding antibiotics in superficial situations, but I'm surprised by a concern regarding peroxide. Any cut wit

by vibrio 9y ago

(microbiologist) I agree on keeping it clean and avoiding antibiotics in superficial situations, but I'm surprised by a concern regarding peroxide. Any cut with any depth I have that may have anaerobic potential at all, I use early and often. Anerobes can be tough, and I've not sensed tissue toxicity from Peroxide, (Isoproanol, for sure).

classichasclass 9y ago
Any reactive oxygen species, of which peroxides are the classic type, can cause oxidative damage in cells. There's a reason we have catalase and peroxidases. This isn't to say there isn't a role for topical antiseptics, but that role is probably right at the beginning after the wound is sustained. I'll go with "early" but definitely not "often."
- Bartweiss 9y ago
  Interesting exchange, thanks. I knew peroxide and isopropanol cause some cell damage, but didn't know if it was significant enough to impact healing. I also didn't know isopropanol was worse for this than peroxides? (If that is what you're saying?) The general stance here makes sense, though; possibly one non-antibiotic clean on a fresh injury, then just leave it alone.
  - classichasclass 9y ago
    I'm not sure which is worse, but I don't think either are helpful beyond the very very short term.
  - vibrio 9y ago
    my view on that is that isopropanol is less discriminate in it's toxicity that hydrogen peroxide. as mentioned above, our cells (but not those of bacterial that live without oxygen) have enzymes such as peroxidase, catalyase, and Superoxide dismutase which fight oxygen radicals(how peroxide works to kill cells). Granted as mentioned above, pouring peroxide on surely overwhelms this system to some extent, so some damage can occur perhaps slowing healing. Isopropanoal just 'drys-out' and denatures every thing it hits pretty much.
- vibrio 9y ago
  A fair view regarding limiting prolonged usage, especially if the wound remains well vascularized and there is reasonable expectation of immune surveillance. I'm probably less of a germ-o-phobe than 99.9% of folks but deep infections and antibiotic resistance are things that keep me up at night, so I'm gonna always be a bit of a H2O2 junkie :]

by vibrio 9y ago

classichasclass 9y ago

Any reactive oxygen species, of which peroxides are the classic type, can cause oxidative damage in cells. There's a reason we have catalase and peroxidases. This isn't to say there isn't a role for topical antiseptics, but that role is probably right at the beginning after the wound is sustained. I'll go with "early" but definitely not "often."

Bartweiss 9y ago
Interesting exchange, thanks. I knew peroxide and isopropanol cause some cell damage, but didn't know if it was significant enough to impact healing. I also didn't know isopropanol was worse for this than peroxides? (If that is what you're saying?) The general stance here makes sense, though; possibly one non-antibiotic clean on a fresh injury, then just leave it alone.
- classichasclass 9y ago
  I'm not sure which is worse, but I don't think either are helpful beyond the very very short term.
- vibrio 9y ago
  my view on that is that isopropanol is less discriminate in it's toxicity that hydrogen peroxide. as mentioned above, our cells (but not those of bacterial that live without oxygen) have enzymes such as peroxidase, catalyase, and Superoxide dismutase which fight oxygen radicals(how peroxide works to kill cells). Granted as mentioned above, pouring peroxide on surely overwhelms this system to some extent, so some damage can occur perhaps slowing healing. Isopropanoal just 'drys-out' and denatures every thing it hits pretty much.
vibrio 9y ago
A fair view regarding limiting prolonged usage, especially if the wound remains well vascularized and there is reasonable expectation of immune surveillance. I'm probably less of a germ-o-phobe than 99.9% of folks but deep infections and antibiotic resistance are things that keep me up at night, so I'm gonna always be a bit of a H2O2 junkie :]