Antibacterial and anticandidal effects of atmospheric‐pressure, non‐thermal, nitrogen‐ and argon‐plasma pulses. Issue 2 (1st December 2021) - Kim, Chang Ki
Abstract: Atmospheric‐pressure, non‐thermal plasma destroys microorganisms by directly reacting with hydrocarbon molecules in the cell wall and/or by damaging the cytoplasmic membrane, proteins, and DNA with charged particles and reactive species. The aim of our study was to evaluate the antibacterial and anticandidal effects of atmospheric‐pressure, non‐thermal, nitrogen‐ and argon‐plasma pulses on various pathogen preparations. The resultant antibacterial and anticandidal effects were assessed by evaluating percent and log reduction values for pathogen colonies. Nitrogen‐plasma pulses emitted at an energy of 1.5 J and argon‐plasma pulses generated at 0.5 J elicited remarkable antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and anticandidal effects on Candida albicans . Nitrogen‐plasma pulses at a pulse count of five elicited remarkable antibacterial effects on Cutibacterium acnes at the energy settings of 1.75, 2.5, and 3 J, but not at 1 J. Meanwhile, argon‐plasma pulses showed antibacterial effects on C. acnes at an energy of 0.5 and 0.65 J. Nitrogen‐ or argon‐plasma pulses exert antibacterial and anticandidal effects on bacterial and fungal pathogens.