AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 37, Issue 9 , Pages 729-733 , November 2009

Use of atmospheric non-thermal plasma as a disinfectant for objects contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

  • Monica L. Burts, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
    • ,
  • Igor Alexeff, PhD, PE

      Affiliations

    • Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
    • ,
  • Eric T. Meek

      Affiliations

    • College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
    • ,
  • Jonathan A. McCullers, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Jonathan A. McCullers, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

References 

  1. Klein E, Smith DL, Laxminarayan R. Hospitalizations and deaths caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, United States, 1999-2005. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13:1840–1846
  2. Elixhauser A, Steiner C. Infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in U.S. hospitals, 1993-2005. (HCUP statistical brief No. 35). Available from: http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb35.pdf. Accessed December 17, 2008.
  3. Boyce JM, Havill NL, Kohan C, Dumigan DG, Ligi CE. Do infection control measures work for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004;25:395–401
  4. Hota B. Contamination, disinfection, and cross-colonization: are hospital surfaces reservoirs for nosocomial infection?. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;39:1182–1189
  5. Rutala WA, Weber DJ, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Guildelines for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/guidelines/Disinfection_Nov_2008.pdf. Accessed December 17, 2008.
  6. Dixon M. Neck ties as vectors for nosocomial infection. Intensive Care Med. 2000;26:250
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  9. Alexeff I, Balasundaram A, Pradeep EP, Karnam N, Pulasani NR. Biological decontamination using an atmospheric pressure resistive barrier plasma discharge. In:  Selcuk G,  Alexeff I editor. Plasma assisted decontamination of biological and chemical agents. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer Science and Business Media, B.V.; 2008;p. 3–19
  10. Laroussi M, Alexeff I, Kang WL. Biological decontamination by nonthermal plasmas. IEEE Trans Plasma Sci. 2000;28:184–188
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  12. Critzer FJ, Kelly-Wintenberg K, South SL, Golden DA. Atmospheric plasma inactivation of foodborne pathogens on fresh produce surfaces. J Food Prot. 2007;70:2290–2296
  13. Perni S, Shama G, Kong MG. Cold atmospheric plasma disinfection of cut fruit surfaces contaminated with migrating microorganisms. J Food Prot. 2008;71:1619–1625
  14. Sladek RE, Filoche SK, Sissons CH, Stoffels E. Treatment of Streptococcus mutans biofilms with a nonthermal atmospheric plasma. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2007;45:318–323
  15. Peltola VT, Murti KG, McCullers JA. Influenza virus neuraminidase contributes to secondary bacterial pneumonia. J Infect Dis. 2005;192:249–257
  16. Rutala WA, Barbee SL, Aguiar NC, Sobsey MD, Weber DJ. Antimicrobial activity of home disinfectants and natural products against potential human pathogens. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2000;21:33–38
  17. Fisher RG, Chain RL, Hair PS, Cunnion KM. Hypochlorite killing of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008;27:934–935
  18. Exner M, Vacata V, Hornei B, Dietlein E, Gebel J. Household cleaning and surface disinfection: new insights and strategies. J Hosp Infect. 2004;56(Suppl 2):S70–S75
  19. Watts AE, Fubini SL, Vernier-Singer M, Golkowski C, Shin S, Todhunter RJ. In vitro analysis of nonthermal plasma as a disinfecting agent. Am J Vet Res. 2006;67:2030–2035
  20. Boyce JM, Havill NL, Otter JA, Adams NM. Widespread environmental contamination associated with patients with diarrhea and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007;28:1142–1147
  21. Otter JA, Cummins M, Ahmad F, van TC, Drabu YJ. Assessing the biological efficacy and rate of recontamination following hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination. J Hosp Infect. 2007;67:182–188

 Supported in part by ALSAC and NIH grant AI-66349 (to J.A.M.).

 Conflicts of interest: None to report.

PII: S0196-6553(09)00535-5

doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2009.03.010

AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 37, Issue 9 , Pages 729-733 , November 2009

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