Antibacterial effects of extracorporeal shock waves

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 115 - 119
• Main Authors: Gerdesmeyer, Ludger, von Eiff, Christof, Horn, Carsten, Henne, Mark, Roessner, Michaela, Diehl, Peter, Gollwitzer, Hans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 2005
• Subjects: Antibacterial; Bactericidal; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Energy flux density; ESWT; High-Energy Shock Waves; Humans; Impulse number; In Vitro Techniques; Infection; Lithotripsy; Permeability - radiation effects; Shock wave; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Staphylococcus aureus - radiation effects; Infection; Energy flux density; Impulse number; Bactericidal; Lithotripsy; ESWT; Antibacterial; Shock wave
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2004.08.022

Despite considerable knowledge about effects of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) on eukaryotic tissues, only little data are available concerning their effect on prokaryotic microorganisms. The objective of the present study was to determine the bactericidal activity as a function of energy flux density and shock-wave impulse number. Standardised suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 were exposed to different impulse numbers of shock waves with an energy flux density (ED) up to 0.96 mJ mm −2 (2 Hz). Subsequently, viable bacteria were quantified by culture and compared with an untreated control. After applying 4000 impulses, a significant bactericidal effect was observed with a threshold ED of 0.59 mJ mm −2 ( p < 0 · 05). A threshold impulse number of more than 1000 impulses was necessary to reduce bacterial growth ( p < 0 · 05). Further elevation of energy and impulse number exponentially increased bacterial killing. ESWT proved to exert significant antibacterial effect in an energy-dependent manner. Certain types of difficult-to-treat infections could offer new applications for ESWT. (E-mail: Gerdesmeyer@aol.com)