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Schmitz

Peter Schmitz, Martina Janssen, Germany

Potential of Steralyth in wound management in settings with limited resources

Steralyths are produced via electro-diaphragmalysis from distilled water with a mild concentration of NaCl. This leads to a temporary (2 – 4 weeks) electro chemical activation. Besides reactive oxygen species, the products contain different chlorine compounds and have a high oxidation-reduction potential. Steralyths are not cytotoxic, biocompatible and toxicologically safe.

Steralyth Solutions are wound irrigation solutions for cleansing and moistening of acute and chronic wounds and wound dressings. Even in problematic cases, such as MRSA or Pseudomonas populated wounds or skin, Steralyths contribute to wound cleansing and decontamination. The solutions can be applied for irrigation of natural orifices and mucous membranes. Beside the decontamination and cleaning there is a marked effect on the wound healing process even of poorly circulated wounds. Therefore patients with burn wounds, decubital defects, chronically contaminated wounds and ulcers, tropical ulcers as well as complicated diabetic foot problems benefit from the application of Steralyths. The production of Steralyths can be introduced in hospitals or pharmacies in developing countries efficiently and are a low cost solution to make a product for effective management of wounds, including complicated wounds available in settings with limited resources. The method won a WHO innovation price and the Steralyths are registered for wound management in Germany and Europe. The registration of the method to produce disinfectant solutions is currently under way.

Case studies and the mode of production and application of Steralyths in an African hospital setting will be presented.

Dr. med. K. Peter Schmitz
MD, Surgeon, Tropical Medicine, DHCMTC, Dipl. Ing.
IHPH - Institute for Hygiene and Public Health
WHO CC
University of Bonn
Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25
D - 53105 Bonn

Martina Janßen
MSc Human Biology, RN
Aquismed GmbH
Marburger Str. 86c
35043 Marburg / Germany