RT Journal Article ID 27d0e9616704f057 A1 Sanaei, Niloofar A1 Ayan, Halim T1 Bactericidal Efficacy of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in Planktonic Phase and Colonies In vitro JF Plasma Medicine JO PMED YR 2015 FD 2016-02-11 VO 5 IS 1 SP 1 OP 16 K1 plasma K1 DBD K1 sterilization K1 decontamination K1 MRSA K1 E. coli K1 colony AB Increasing emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria during the past few decades has become a major public health concern and has reduced the efficacy of conventional therapies. The objective of the current study is to examine the bactericidal efficacy of atmospheric pressure nonthermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a common musculoskeletal pathogen and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as another cause of bone, joint, and soft tissue infections in planktonic phase and in colonies. In planktonic phase, results demonstrated complete decontamination of E. coli and MRSA cells on agar plates with a bacterial surface density of 1.27 × 105 colony-forming units (CFU)/cm2 following 30 seconds and 60 seconds of plasma treatment, respectively. Reduction rates of 7 log10 steps in the number of viable CFUs in E. coli colonies was observed following 5 minutes of plasma treatment. The colony growth was halted, and no more growth in colony size was observed during a 24-hour monitoring period. For MRSA colonies, results demonstrated 2 log10 to 7 log10 steps reduction in the number of viable CFUs in each colony after 5 minutes of plasma treatment. Results indicated that plasma-treated colonies will have prolonged lag time during generation of the growth curves. Finally, diffusion of nitric oxide into the agarose gel was confirmed as a reactive agent that was effective in the decontamination process. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/5a5b4a3d419387fb,18cfba372aca134e,27d0e9616704f057.html