title: Inactivation of Gram-Negative Bacteria by Low-Pressure RF Remote Plasma Excited in N2-O2 Mixture and SF6 Gases.
abstract: The role of low-pressure RF plasma in the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterobacter sakazakii using N2-O2 and SF6 gases was assessed. 1×10(9) colony-forming units (CFUs) of each bacterial isolate were placed on three polymer foils. The effects of pressure, power, distance from the source, and exposure time to plasma gases were optimized. The best conditions to inactivate the four bacteria were a 91%N2-9%O2 mixture and a 30-minute exposure time. SF6 gas was more efficient for all the tested isolates in as much as the treatment time was reduced to only three minutes. Therefore, low-pressure plasma could be used to sterilize heat and/or moisture-sensitive medical instruments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria;
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Mariri
authors.forename: Saker
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saloum
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mrad
authors.forename: Ghayath
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Swied
authors.forename: Bashar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alkhaled
keywords: Bacteria; Inactivation; Low pressure; Plasma; Polymer