title: Contact-free inactivation of Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis by cold atmospheric plasma treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has already proven efficient at disinfection of microorganisms including biofilms. The objective of the present study is to assess the efficacy of CAP against the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  T. rubrum and M. canis were exposed to CAP for different treatment times and time intervals in vitro. Treatment with ciclopirox olamine or UVC radiation (0.120 J/cm(2)) served as controls. CAP was generated by the surface microdischarge technology. Fungal colony growth was measured upon CAP treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated daily CAP treatments of 10 min demonstrated an inhibition of growth during the treatment period of 9 days. Single CAP treatment sessions for 5, 8 and 10 min, as well as treatments for 5 or 8 min daily, resulted in less fungal growth inhibition. UVC radiation treatment failed, but not ciclopirox olamine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAP shows promising potential for future application in the treatment of dermatophyte infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinlin
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maisch
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holzmann
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heider
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landthaler
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morfill
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karrer
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D008864:Microsporum / Q000187:drug effects*; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D058626:Plasma Gases