Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Treating Surfaces with a Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma using the COST-Jet
Published on: November 2, 2020
Skin and wound decontamination of multidrug-resistant bacteria by cold atmospheric plasma coagulation
Georg Daeschlein1, Matthias Napp, Stine Lutze
1Department of Dermatology of the Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
Background And Objectives:
Novel concepts to limit the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) are urgently needed. Since treatment with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown significant antibacterial properties, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of CAP to eliminate MDR- compared to non-MDR-pathogens in chronic wounds.
Methods:
Eleven patients with 18 heavily colonized wounds were treated with a CE-certified commercial argon-based CAP source for 10 s/cm(2) in one session. The antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by calculating the microbial load before and after treatment.
Results:
A single CAP treatment reduced MDR in all wounds. In 14 treatments (63.6 %) and for 16 pathogens (66.7 %), a 100 % reduction of the bacterial load was observed. For 11 of 17 (64.7 %) MDR-pathogens and for 5 of 7 (71.4 %) other non-MDR-pathogens, complete eradication was achieved. The remaining 8 treatments showed reductions of 77.5 ± 18.6 % and the remaining pathogens a reduction of 74.8 ± 25.7 %.
Conclusions:
As proof of principle, argon-based CAP serves as a potent treatment modality that was shown to limit MDR microbial colonization. The possible role of CAP in clinical MDR decontamination must be evaluated in clinical trials with repeated plasma treatment embedded in a comprehensive hygienic decontamination concept.
Related Concept Videos
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration
Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature

