Use of Vinegar to Fight Infections after Knee Operations

Use of Vinegar to Fight Infections after Knee Operations

Recently, an article in the online version of the Daily Mail (United Kingdom) related to the use of vinegar to treat infections in knee replacements. The article notes, “Surgeons in Cardiff are applying acetic acid to bacteria when new knee joints become infected, thereby reducing the need for further surgery.” Rhidian Morgan-Jones, a consultant orthopedic surgeon, is quoted in the article as saying that tests have shown that soaking the biofilm (the sticky layer of bacteria inside the knee) in the vinegar solution effectively kills the bacteria better than standard saline. He indicates that further studies are needed, but notes, “Sugar and vinegar have been used in medicine for centuries and don’t create resistance as antibiotics do.”

To read the article, use this link.