Antibacterial Activity of DBD Plasma-Activated Saline Against Clinically Relevant Bacteria: Potential Applications in...

Effective infection control in family and reproductive healthcare settings is essential for preventing transmission of clinically significant pathogens. Plasma-activated saline (PAS), generated by non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma, has emerged as a promising eco-friendly antimicrobial agent due to the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of PAS produced by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma system and investigated its potential applicability in reproductive and family healthcare environments.

In this experimental study sterile physiological saline was exposed to a DBD plasma system under atmospheric pressure for different activation durations. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella sonnei. Bacterial suspensions were treated with PAS at different exposure times, and viable bacterial counts were quantified using the plate count method.

Increasing plasma activation time significantly altered the physicochemical properties of saline, particularly by decreasing pH and increasing reactive nitrogen species concentrations. PAS demonstrated strong time-dependent antibacterial activity against all tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. More than 99.9% (>3-log) reduction in viable bacterial counts was achieved after 1 minute of treatment. No detectable bacterial growth was observed after 3 minutes of exposure for Gram-negative bacteria, whereas Staphylococcus aureus required 4 minutes for complete inhibition. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant reductions in bacterial survival with increasing treatment duration.

DBD plasma-activated saline exhibited rapid and substantial antibacterial effects against clinically relevant pathogens associated with infection control. Its potent antimicrobial activity, environmental compatibility, and absence of persistent chemical residues highlight its potential as an alternative disinfectant for medical device sterilization, surface decontamination, and hygiene-related applications.