title: Cold atmospheric pressure plasma and decontamination. Can it contribute to preventing hospital-acquired infections?
abstract: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) affect ∼4.5 million patients in Europe alone annually. With the ever-increasing number of 'multi-resistant' micro-organisms, alternative and more effective methods of environmental decontamination are being sought as an important component of infection prevention and control. One of these is the use of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) systems with clinical applications in healthcare facilities. CAPPs have been shown to demonstrate antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral properties and have been adopted for other uses in clinical medicine over the past decade. CAPPs vary in their physical and chemical nature depending on the plasma-generating mechanism (e.g. plasma jet, dielectric barrier discharge, etc.). CAPP systems produce a 'cocktail' of species including positive and negative ions, reactive atoms and molecules (e.g. atomic oxygen, ozone, superoxide and oxides of nitrogen), intense electric fields, and ultraviolet radiation (UV). The effects of these ions have been studied on micro-organisms, skin, blood, and DNA; thus, a range of possible applications of CAPPs has been identified, including surface decontamination, wound healing, biofilm removal, and even cancer therapy. Here we evaluate plasma devices, their applications, mode of action and their potential role specifically in combating HCAIs on clinical surfaces.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin, Ireland; School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: orla.cahill@dcu.ie.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin, Ireland; School of Electronic Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galvin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases
keywords: Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP); Decontamination; Disinfection; Healthcare-associated infections