Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2012

Publication Title

Letters in Applied Microbiology

Volume

54

Issue

2

Pages

126-132

DOI

10.1111/j.1472-765X.2011.03186.x

Abstract

AIMS: Multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogens are clinically significant and require the development of new antimicrobial methods. In this study, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus cells were exposed to atmospheric plasma on agar plates and in vitro on porcine skin for the purpose of testing bacterial inactivation.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Microbial inactivation at varying exposure durations was tested using a nonthermal plasma jet generated with a DC voltage from ambient air. The observed reduction in colony forming units was quantified as log10 reductions.

CONCLUSIONS: Direct plasma exposure significantly inactivated seeded bacterial cells by approx. 6 log10 on agar plates and 2-3 log10 on porcine skin. On agar plates, an indirect 'bystander' inactivation outside the plasma delivery area was also observed. The reduced inactivation observed on the skin surface was most likely due to cell protection by the variable surface architecture.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: Atmospheric plasma has potential for clinical application as a disinfectant of patient skin and medically relevant surfaces.

Original Publication Citation

Heller, L. C., Edelblute, C. M., Mattson, A. M., Hao, X., & Kolb, J. F. (2012). Inactivation of bacterial opportunistic skin pathogens by nonthermal DC-operated afterglow atmospheric plasma. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 54(2), 126-132. doi:10.1111/j.1472-765X.2011.03186.x

ORCID

0000-0001-8084-0787 (Heller, L.)

Download

Share

COinS