Antimicrobial efficacy of argon cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet on
clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant ESKAPE bacteria
Abstract
The rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE bacteria have become a
major therapeutic challenge globally. Recently, novel cold atmospheric
pressure plasma (CAP) as an antimicrobial is becoming popular. In this
study, an indigenously developed AC cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet
(CAPJ) fed with argon gas was used to evaluate its antimicrobial
efficacy on these bacteria isolated from clinical specimens such as
urine, blood, and sputum in a tertiary care hospital in India. The
difference in CAP’s antimicrobial activity on Gram-negative bacilli (MDR
E. coli) and Grampositive cocci (MDR S. aureus) was observed with
various input parameters, such as microbial concentration, CAP exposure
time, and exposure distance. It was observed that oxidative stress
induced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
(O2-, NO+,
OH., H2O2,
ONOO-, NO.,
NO2.,
HO2.,
O3-, etc.) and electrostatic stress by
ions (Ar+, O+,
O2-, OH-,
NO+, OH+,
NO3-,
NO2-,
O3-, etc.) might play a crucial role
in microbial inactivation. In addition to this, a decrease in adenosine
triphosphate concentration post-CAP exposure in a liquid media suggested
an efficient microbial inactivation effect. The outcome of this research
would be extremely beneficial to multidisciplinary researchers in this
field.