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Skin and wound decontamination of multidrug‐resistant bacteria by cold atmospheric plasma coagulation
Author(s) -
Daeschlein Georg,
Napp Matthias,
Lutze Stine,
Arnold Andreas,
Podewils Sebastian,
Guembel Denis,
Jünger Michael
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
jddg: journal der deutschen dermatologischen gesellschaft
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1610-0387
pISSN - 1610-0379
DOI - 10.1111/ddg.12559
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , multiple drug resistance , antimicrobial , human decontamination , medicine , antibiotics , biology , pathology
Summary Background and objectives Novel concepts to limit the spread of multidrug‐resistant bacteria (MDR) are urgently needed. Since treatment with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown significant antibacterial properties, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of CAP to eliminate MDR‐ compared to non‐MDR‐pathogens in chronic wounds. Methods Eleven patients with 18 heavily colonized wounds were treated with a CE‐certified commercial argon‐based CAP source for 10 s/cm 2 in one session. The antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by calculating the microbial load before and after treatment. Results A single CAP treatment reduced MDR in all wounds. In 14 treatments (63.6 %) and for 16 pathogens (66.7 %), a 100 % reduction of the bacterial load was observed. For 11 of 17 (64.7 %) MDR‐pathogens and for 5 of 7 (71.4 %) other non‐MDR‐pathogens, complete eradication was achieved. The remaining 8 treatments showed reductions of 77.5 ± 18.6 % and the remaining pathogens a reduction of 74.8 ± 25.7 %. Conclusions As proof of principle, argon‐based CAP serves as a potent treatment modality that was shown to limit MDR microbial colonization. The possible role of CAP in clinical MDR decontamination must be evaluated in clinical trials with repeated plasma treatment embedded in a comprehensive hygienic decontamination concept.