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Plasma-activated liquid as a potential decontaminant in healthcare: assessment of antibacterial activity and use with cleaning cloths

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journal contribution
posted on 2024-03-19, 13:46 authored by M. Fallon, S. Kennedy, S. Daniels, Hilary HumphreysHilary Humphreys

Background: ; Cold air plasma (CAP) can generate plasma activated liquids (PALs) with high concentrations of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), e.g. nitrites, with antimicrobial properties.

Aim: We investigated the concentrations of ROS and RNS in saline PAL. We assessed planktonic bacterial inactivation by PAL and the decontamination of contaminated cleaning cloths.

Methods: Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was treated with an air-driven CAP jet for 90 or 300s to generate PAL. The ROS and RNS were measured using quantitative fluorescent (2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate) and colorimetric (Greiss) assays. Isolates of MRSA and E. coli were incubated in PAL overnight and inactivation measured through colony forming unit (CFU) assays. Sections of cleaning cloths were incubated with MRSA and E. coli, and treated with PAL for 1 hour. Bacterial inactivation was measured through resazurin reduction assays.

Results: Nitrites increased from 0.1 μM in untreated PBS to 49.1 μM and to 94.0 μM in 90 and 300s CAP-treated PAL, respectively. ROS increased from 30 μM in untreated PBS to 75 μM and to 103 μM in 90 and 300s CAP-treated PAL, respectively. 90s-PAL reduced MRSA and E. coli viability (p<0.05) and 300s-PAL resulted in more than a 7-log reduction of both. One-hour treatment of contaminated cleaning cloths in PAL resulted in a 55% and 73% reduction in viable MRSA and E. coli, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Inactivation of planktonic bacteria correlated with ROS and RNS concentrations. PAL reduced bacteria contaminated cleaning cloths. PAL has potential as a hospital disinfectant, including cleaning cloths.

Funding

RCSI through the Strategic Academic Recruitment programme

Enterprise Ireland grant, CF2015/56701A

History

Comments

The original article is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/

Published Citation

Fallon M, Kennedy S, Daniels S, Humphreys H. Plasma-activated liquid as a potential decontaminant in healthcare. Assessment of antibacterial activity and use with cleaning cloths. J Hosp Infect. 2024:S0195-6701(24)00025-2

Publication Date

24 January 2024

PubMed ID

38272125

Department/Unit

  • Clinical Microbiology

Publisher

Elsevier B.V.

Version

  • Accepted Version (Postprint)