Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

Inactivation of Gram-Negative Bacteria by Low-Pressure RF Remote Plasma Excited in N2-O2 Mixture and SF6 Gases

Document Type : Brief Report(s)

Authors

Ayman Al-Mariri 1
Saker Saloum 2
Omar Mrad 3
Ghayath Swied 1
Bashar Alkhaled 2

1 Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria

2 Department of Physics, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria

3 Department of Chemistry, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria, Damascus, Syria

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. 1×109 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.

Keywords

Bacteria
Inactivation
Low pressure
Plasma
Polymer
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 38, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
4
December 2013
Pages 334-338

  • Received 14 September 2013
  • Revised 23 August 2020
  • Accepted 24 December 2018

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