Bacterial inactivation of wound infection in a human skin model by liquid-phase discharge plasma

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 6; no. 8; p. e24104
• Main Authors: Kim, Paul Y, Kim, Yoon-Sun, Koo, Il Gyo, Jung, Jae Chul, Kim, Gon Jun, Choi, Myeong Yeol, Yu, Zengqi, Collins, George J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 29.08.2011; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Active oxygen; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Atomic oxygen; Bacillus subtilis; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biology; Bone surgery; Cold; Computer engineering; Deactivation; Discharge; Disinfection; Disinfection - methods; E coli; Electrodes; Escherichia coli; Health aspects; Heat; Humans; Inactivation; Infection control; Medicine; Microbial Viability - drug effects; Microorganisms; Models, Biological; Optical Phenomena; Oxygen; Physics; Plasma; Plasma - chemistry; Plasma - metabolism; Plasma physics; Reactive oxygen species; Skin; Skin - microbiology; Skin - pathology; Spectral analysis; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - physiology; Staphylococcus aureus infections; Statistical analysis; Temperature; Tissue Survival; Viability; Water treatment; Wound infection; Wound Infection - microbiology; Wound Infection - pathology; United States > US; Colorado
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024104

We investigate disinfection of a reconstructed human skin model contaminated with biofilm-formative Staphylococcus aureus employing plasma discharge in liquid. We observed statistically significant 3.83-log10 (p<0.001) and 1.59-log10 (p<0.05) decreases in colony forming units of adherent S. aureus bacteria and 24 h S. aureus biofilm culture with plasma treatment. Plasma treatment was associated with minimal changes in histological morphology and tissue viability determined by means of MTT assay. Spectral analysis of the plasma discharge indicated the presence of highly reactive atomic oxygen radicals (777 nm and 844 nm) and OH bands in the UV region. The contribution of these and other plasma-generated agents and physical conditions to the reduction in bacterial load are discussed. These findings demonstrate the potential of liquid plasma treatment as a potential adjunct therapy for chronic wounds.