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Decontamination of Nosocomial Bacteria Including Clostridium difficile Spores on Dry Inanimate Surface by Cold Atmospheric Plasma
Author(s) -
Klämpfl Tobias G.,
Shimizu Tetsuji,
Koch Sylvia,
Balden Martin,
Gemein Stefanie,
Li YangFang,
Mitra Anindita,
Zimmermann Julia L.,
Gebel Jürgen,
Morfill Gregor E.,
Schmidt HansUlrich
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201400080
Subject(s) - bioburden , endospore , spore , disinfectant , human decontamination , microbiology and biotechnology , clostridium difficile , bacteria , clostridium , enterococcus faecium , food science , environmental science , biology , chemistry , waste management , antibiotics , genetics , organic chemistry , engineering
Microbial control is important to prevent nosocomial infections. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is studied as an alternative disinfectant for dry surfaces. Bacterial endospores including Clostridium difficile and vegetative bacteria including Enterococcus faecium are treated on carriers, considering European testing standards. CAP reduces the spore load (10 6 cfu) by at least 3 log 10 as required, independent from the bioburden (≤10 min treatments). Only a 2 log 10 reduction is achieved with vegetative bacteria due to multilayer formation resulting from a higher required load (10 8 cfu). However, densities <10 −7 cfu cm −2 enable disinfection by CAP. Elemental mapping identified other influencing burden. Overall, this study demonstrates possibilities and limitations of CAP treatment for disinfecting purposes.