C Wiegand1, S Fink2, U-C Hipler3, O Beier4, K Horn4, A Pfuch5, A Schimanski6, B Grünler6. 1. Biochemist, Scientific Associate, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07740 Jena, Germany. 2. Scientific Associate, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07740 Jena, Germany. 3. Head of Laboratory, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07740 Jena, Germany. 4. Research Scientist, Department of Surface Engineering/Plasma Technology, Innovent e.v. Technology Development Jena, Pruessingstrasse 27B, D-07745 Jena, Germany. 5. Head of Department Plasma Technology, Innovent e.v. Technology Development Jena, Pruessingstrasse 27B, D-07745 Jena, Germany. 6. Managing Director of Innovent, Innovent e.v. Technology Development Jena, Pruessingstrasse 27B, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPPs) have been used to sterilise implant materials and other thermally unstable medical products and to modify chemical surfaces. This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of the gas and input power used to generate CAPPs on microorganisms causing skin infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Malassezia pachydermatis. METHOD: Microorganisms were cultivated on Mueller Hinton 2 (MH2) agar plates. CAPP treatment was performed using the Plasma BLASTER MEF. To investigate the antimicrobial effects the following CAPP parameters were varied: the gas used, input power, as well as number of treatments and treatment time. RESULTS: The antimicrobial efficacy of the CAPPs was found to increase with increasing input power and treatment time (or cycles). Furthermore the plasma generated from nitrogen is more effective than from air. CONCLUSION: The study showed that CAPPs demonstrate strong bactericidal and fungicidal properties in vitro. The selective application of CAPPs for the treatment of wound infections may offer a promising supplementary tool alongside current therapies.
OBJECTIVE: Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPPs) have been used to sterilise implant materials and other thermally unstable medical products and to modify chemical surfaces. This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of the gas and input power used to generate CAPPs on microorganisms causing skin infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Malassezia pachydermatis. METHOD: Microorganisms were cultivated on Mueller Hinton 2 (MH2) agar plates. CAPP treatment was performed using the Plasma BLASTER MEF. To investigate the antimicrobial effects the following CAPP parameters were varied: the gas used, input power, as well as number of treatments and treatment time. RESULTS: The antimicrobial efficacy of the CAPPs was found to increase with increasing input power and treatment time (or cycles). Furthermore the plasma generated from nitrogen is more effective than from air. CONCLUSION: The study showed that CAPPs demonstrate strong bactericidal and fungicidal properties in vitro. The selective application of CAPPs for the treatment of wound infections may offer a promising supplementary tool alongside current therapies.