How Salt May Help Stop the Spread of Superbugs

Sodium is often limited in the diet of older adults to help control high blood pressure and prevent other health problems but salt may have found a valuable new use as a means of controlling infectious diseases that have become resistant to antibiotics, according to a recent Global News report.

A Canadian native may have discovered a simple, inexpensive and safe means of hindering the spread of infection in hospitals and nursing homes. Salt has long been used to preserve meats and inhibit the growth of bacteria such as salmonella. Doug Olson, who lives in Edmonton, Alberta, worked for many years in the meat industry. He has taken his knowledge of salt’s antibacterial properties and by funding his own initial research, may have discovered something remarkable.

Olson’s testing found that the superbug MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) survived for only five minutes on salt while living for 90 minutes on copper and more than six hours on stainless steel. Manufactured antimicrobial surfaces, enhanced with copper, claim only to kill bacteria within two hours of exposure. The effectiveness of a salt surface in killing bacteria is attributed to rapid dehydration.

Olson’s idea was the subject of a research paper co-authored by Brayden Whitlock, a PhD candidate from the University of Alberta, and Stephanie Smith, an infectious disease specialist. In addition to promoting hand washing, anti-microbial surfaces that inhibit the transmission of organisms could have a significant impact on the rate at which superbugs infect the public. The large salt blocks Olson uses to manufacture door knobs, faucet handles, toilet handles, bed rails and other often-touched surfaces cost roughly $6 CAD each.  And in addition to being effective, natural and less costly than other products, solid salt surfaces have been demonstrated to hold up well to hospital grade cleaning products.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria kills 700,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization and by 2050 it is estimated 10 million people will have died as a result of these superbugs. Reducing the use of antibiotics and research into viruses that could kill bacteria or make them less virulent, is one part of the solution but preventing the spread of infection is the first line in defense against constantly evolving bacteria.

Olson and his partners are currently in talks with two hospitals to test his product, Outbreaker, on site. To read the full study of using compressed sodium chloride as a fast-acting antimicrobial surface, visit: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670116300597 .

What You May Not Know About Salt

• Cloth soaked in saltwater is used to prevent cheese from molding
• Saltwater is a good antiseptic and can used for a mouth rinse to relieve sores
• Saltwater can prevent fruits and vegetable from browning
• Salt has long been used to cure meat and preserve food (pickling)
• The largest use for salt today is for winter road safety
• Salt is an essential nutrient to life which animals and humans naturally seek out