The Use of an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet to Inhibit Common Wound-Related Pathogenic Strains of Bacteria

摘要

The Plaz4 electrosurgical generator produces a nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) at 26°C. This APPJ was tested for its antibacterial capabilities on common wound-related pathogens. The inhibition zone (IZ) of bacterial growth and surviving colony-forming units (CFUs) within the IZ were determined for 4 common clinical isolates: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Agar was inoculated at a high density with a bacterial culture medium (107 CFUs/mL). The strains' susceptibility to the APPJ was tested at exposure times between 30 and 140 seconds. A positive correlation between plasma exposure time and bacterial growth IZ size, and a negative correlation between exposure time and the number of surviving CFUs inside the IZ, were observed. It was possible to achieve a round IZ, 4 cm in diameter, for all strains after 70 seconds of exposure, with less than 10 CFUs/cm2 surviving within the zone. P. aeruginosa was more resistant to plasma and required a longer exposure to achieve an IZ similar to that of other strains. However, the number of CFUs surviving inside the IZ was smaller for this strain for a majority of test conditions. Intraoperative contamination is a significant cause of perioperative infection. Drug-resistant bacteria are endemic to hospitals and are a significant public health concern. With the increasing risk of infections related to drug-resistant bacteria, it is crucial to look for alternative treatments. Electrosurgical generators are routinely used in surgical cases. Therefore, Plaz4 applied to surgical sites or debrided wounds could result in a clinically meaningful reduction in tissue bioburden.