Use of atmospheric non-thermal plasma as a disinfectant for objects contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
published online 26 June 2009.
Background
Health care-associated infections because of methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are increasing worldwide despite current infection control measures. Novel methods for disinfection of MRSA would be useful.
Methods
We tested the effectiveness of atmospheric, non-thermal plasma discharge at killing S aureus, including USA300 strains, and at disinfecting experimentally contaminated hospital pagers.
Results
Exposure of S aureus to plasma at different concentrations and for varying lengths of time resulted in up to a 4- to 5-log10 kill on tryptic soy agar plates within 10minutes and was not toxic to epithelial cells. USA300 strains of MRSA were more resistant to plasma-based killing than other tested strains. Disinfection of hospital pagers experimentally coated with clinically relevant amounts of MRSA could be achieved in as little as 30 seconds.
Conclusion
Generation of plasma is a promising method for disinfection of objects or surfaces that warrants further study in hospital settings. The USA300 strains of S aureus may be more resistant to disinfection than other strains.
aDepartment of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
bDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
cCollege of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
Address correspondence to Jonathan A. McCullers, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Supported in part by ALSAC and NIH grant AI-66349 (to J.A.M.).
ABSTRACT