title: Cold-air atmospheric pressure plasma against Clostridium difficile spores: a potential alternative for the decontamination of hospital inanimate surfaces.
abstract: Clostridium difficile spores survive for months on environmental surfaces and are highly resistant to decontamination. We evaluated the effect of cold-air plasma against C. difficile spores. The single-jet had no effect while the multi-jet achieved 2-3 log10 reductions in spore counts and may augment traditional decontamination.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Microbiology,Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Claro
authors.affiliation: 2School of Electronic Engineering and National Centre for Plasma Science Technology,Dublin City University,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Orla J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.affiliation: 2School of Electronic Engineering and National Centre for Plasma Science Technology,Dublin City University,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: 2School of Electronic Engineering and National Centre for Plasma Science Technology,Dublin City University,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Microbiology,Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,Dublin,Ireland.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases