• Question: could coke be use to disinfect a wound

    Asked by 12morsej to PB, Paul, Lyn on 20 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Peter Balfe

      Peter Balfe answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      Coke contains phosphoric acid, which is pretty toxic. Unfortunately it also contains lots of sugar, which bacteria love to eat. So on balance I’d suggest it’s not a great idea.

    • Photo: Paul Waines

      Paul Waines answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      To follow on from Peter’s answer, Diet coke might be more effective, but there are lots of other things in there which bacteria would like to eat, I’m sure. Like humans, some would probably like it (or hate it) more than others…

    • Photo: Ee Lyn Lim

      Ee Lyn Lim answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      There is rather a LOT more sugar than acid in Coke! Coke is indeed acidic, but if the cells in your throat and oesophagus can handle it, then there are bacteria out there that can handle much worse. But all sorts of bacteria would be very happy with all the sugar…

      On the other hand, it’s commonly believed that you can keep Coke around forever, and it won’t spoil! (It goes flat, but that’s about it.) That does mean that bacteria don’t like it – but imagine what that means, in terms of the preservatives they put into it, to keep bacteria away from all that sugar. The chemicals in Coke would probably do more damage to your own cells, which are exposed in the wound. You’d also afterwards have to wash the sticky sugary stuff out of your wound anyway. Don’t do it!

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