Bactericidal efficacy of atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) against the ESKAPE pathogens
Padrig B Flynn1, Sarah Higginbotham1, Nid'a H Alshraiedeh2
1School of Pharmacy, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
Abstract:
The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens within the clinical environment is presenting a mounting problem in hospitals worldwide. The 'ESKAPE' pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) have been highlighted as a group of causative organisms in a majority of nosocomial infections, presenting a serious health risk due to widespread antimicrobial resistance. The stagnating pipeline of new antibiotics requires alternative approaches to the control and treatment of nosocomial infections. Atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) is attracting growing interest as an alternative infection control approach within the clinical setting. This study presents a comprehensive bactericidal assessment of an in-house-designed APNTP jet both against biofilms and planktonic bacteria of the ESKAPE pathogens. Standard plate counts and the XTT metabolic assay were used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of APNTP, with both methods demonstrating comparable eradication times. APNTP exhibited rapid antimicrobial activity against all of the ESKAPE pathogens in the planktonic mode of growth and provided efficient and complete eradication of ESKAPE pathogens in the biofilm mode of growth within 360s, with the exception of A. baumannii where a >4log reduction in biofilm viability was observed. This demonstrates its effectiveness as a bactericidal treatment against these pathogens and further highlights its potential application in the clinical environment for the control of highly antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
Insights
Atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) effectively kills planktonic and biofilm ESKAPE pathogens, which are major causes of hospital infections. This innovative approach offers a promising alternative for controlling multidrug-resistant bacteria in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Plasma Physics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant pathogens, particularly the ESKAPE group, cause significant nosocomial infections globally.
- The limited development of new antibiotics necessitates alternative strategies for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of a novel atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) jet against ESKAPE pathogens.
- To assess APNTP's effectiveness against both planktonic and biofilm bacterial growth modes.
Main Methods:
- Standard plate counts and XTT metabolic assays were employed to quantify bacterial viability.
- An in-house-designed APNTP jet was used to treat bacterial cultures of ESKAPE pathogens.
Main Results:
- APNTP demonstrated rapid antimicrobial activity against planktonic ESKAPE pathogens.
- Complete eradication of ESKAPE pathogens in biofilms was achieved within 360s, with a >4log reduction for Acinetobacter baumannii.
Conclusions:
- APNTP is an effective bactericidal treatment against multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens in both planktonic and biofilm forms.
- APNTP shows significant potential for clinical application in controlling highly resistant nosocomial infections.
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