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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Treating Surfaces with a Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma using the COST-Jet
Published on: November 2, 2020
Cold atmospheric plasma for surface disinfection: a promising weapon against deleterious meticillin-resistant
1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Background:
Bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to classical antimicrobial agents, so new approaches need to be explored.
Aim:
To assess the potential of cold atmospheric plasma for the management of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Methods:
The 24, 48, and 72 h resistant and susceptible S. aureus biofilms were exposed to 60, 120, and 180 s treatment with plasma.
Findings:
Increasing the treatment time results in higher cell reduction for both susceptible and resistant strains of S. aureus (P < 0.05). Up to log10 reduction factor of 5.24 cfu/cm2 can be achieved in 180 s of plasma treatment. Furthermore, plasma can substantially alter the cell's metabolisms and impact cell membrane integrity. However, it has not been shown that plasma can reduce biofilm biomass in the case of 24 h and 48 h biofilms, although the 72 h biofilm was more susceptible, and its biomass was decreased (P < 0.05). The accumulation of intrabacterial reactive oxygen species was also observed, which confirms the plasma's induction of oxidative stress. Finally, it was shown that continuous plasma exposure of bacterial cells does not cause resistance to plasma, nor is resistance developed to cefoxitin.
Conclusion:
Cold atmospheric plasma is a good candidate for S. aureus and MRSA biofilm treatment and may therefore be of value in the bacterial resistance crisis.
Insights
Cold atmospheric plasma effectively reduces methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. This innovative approach offers a promising solution to combatting the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Plasma Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Rising antimicrobial resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
- Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant public health challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in treating MRSA biofilms.
- To investigate the impact of CAP on bacterial cell viability and biofilm structure.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of S. aureus biofilms (susceptible and resistant strains) to varying durations of CAP (60, 120, 180 seconds).
- Assessment of bacterial reduction, cell metabolism, membrane integrity, and biofilm biomass.
- Measurement of intrabacterial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and evaluation of resistance development.
Main Results:
- CAP treatment significantly reduced bacterial cell counts in a time-dependent manner.
- CAP altered bacterial metabolism and compromised cell membrane integrity, inducing oxidative stress.
- CAP effectively reduced the biomass of 72-hour MRSA biofilms, but not 24 or 48-hour biofilms.
Conclusions:
- Cold atmospheric plasma demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent against S. aureus and MRSA biofilms.
- CAP may serve as a valuable tool in addressing the global crisis of antibiotic resistance.
- No resistance to CAP or cefoxitin was observed following continuous plasma exposure.
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