A first prospective randomized controlled trial to decrease bacterial load using cold atmospheric argon plasma on chronic wounds in patients

• Published in: British journal of dermatology (1951) Vol. 163; no. 1; pp. 78 - 82
• Main Authors: Isbary, G., Morfill, G., Schmidt, H.U., Georgi, M., Ramrath, K., Heinlin, J., Karrer, S., Landthaler, M., Shimizu, T., Steffes, B., Bunk, W., Monetti, R., Zimmermann, J.L., Pompl, R., Stolz, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2010; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Argon; Argon - therapeutic use; argon plasma; Bacteria; Bacterial Load; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; chronic wounds; Clinical trials; cold atmospheric plasma; Cold Temperature; Colonization; Cryotherapy - methods; Dermatology; Female; Filters; Human viral diseases; Humans; infection; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; MRSA; plasma medicine; Prospective Studies; Pyroxylin; Side effects; Treatment Outcome; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Wound Healing; Wound Infection - microbiology; Wound Infection - therapy; Wounds; Human; Nose disease; Dermatology; Common cold; cold atmospheric plasma; plasma medicine; Wound; Blood plasma; Infection; Chronic; Viral disease; MRSA; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; ENT disease; Micrococcaceae; Staphylococcus aureus; chronic wounds; Argon plasma
• ISSN: 0007-0963; 1365-2133
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09744.x

Summary Background  Bacterial colonization of chronic wounds slows healing. Cold atmospheric plasma has been shown in vitro to kill a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. Objectives  To examine the safety and efficiency of cold atmospheric argon plasma to decrease bacterial load as a new medical treatment for chronic wounds. Patients and methods  Thirty‐eight chronic infected wounds in 36 patients were treated in a prospective randomized controlled phase II study with 5 min daily cold atmospheric argon plasma in addition to standard wound care. The patient acted as his or her own control. Bacterial species were detected by standard bacterial swabs and semiquantitative changes by nitrocellulose filters. Plasma setting and safety had been determined in a preceding phase I study. Results  Analysis of 291 treatments in 38 wounds found a highly significant (34%, P < 10−6) reduction of bacterial load in treated wounds, regardless of the type of bacteria. No side‐effects occurred and the treatment was well tolerated. Conclusions  Cold atmospheric argon plasma treatment is potentially a safe and painless new technique to decrease bacterial load of chronic wounds and promote healing.