New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol
Abstract Cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) offers a promising alternative to conventional sterilisation and disinfection methods, which are often unsuitable for thermolabile medical devices due to high temperatures, toxic chemicals or radiation. CAP-A efficiently inactivates microorganisms and...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03364-2 |
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| author | Tom Schaal Ulrich Schmelz Frank-Albert Pitten Tim Tischendorf |
| author_facet | Tom Schaal Ulrich Schmelz Frank-Albert Pitten Tim Tischendorf |
| author_sort | Tom Schaal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) offers a promising alternative to conventional sterilisation and disinfection methods, which are often unsuitable for thermolabile medical devices due to high temperatures, toxic chemicals or radiation. CAP-A efficiently inactivates microorganisms and viruses without compromising the material integrity. Given the ongoing risk of infection associated with ultrasound probes and other delicate diagnostic instruments, this study investigates whether an indirect CAP-A method can meet all requirements for effective and safe disinfection of thermolabile medical devices. The disinfection of thermolabile medical devices was carried out in a container saturated with indirect CAP-A. A transvaginal ultrasound probe was used as a reference product. The study involved six test organisms, with five measurements taken at six different measurement points. The study showed that Enterococcus hirae (mean logarithmic reduction factor (LRF) > 6.23), Staphylococcus aureus (mean LRF > 6.51), and Enterococcus faecium (mean LRF > 6.16) demonstrated a germ reduction of > 99.9999%. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mean LRF > 5.40) and Escherichia coli (mean LRF > 5.29), a germ reduction of > 99.999% was achieved, and for Candida albicans (mean LRF > 4.95) and Clostridioides difficile (mean LRF > 4.62), a germ reduction of > 99.99% was demonstrated. The log reduction demonstrates a complete inactivation of the six tested microorganisms. The initially defined requirements for an effective disinfection process for thermolabile medical devices were met in the CAP-A method. Regarding highly tenacious microorganisms, such as Clostridioides difficile, the method of CAP-A proved effective, superior to alcohol-based methods, and with no resistance development observed. Its efficacy is otherwise only known in corrosive chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide. However, these chemicals have corrosive-oxidative effects on the surfaces to be disinfected and are critical in terms of market launch and hazardous material classification. Therefore, the method of CAP-A, provides an effective, material-friendly alternative. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b849ea23449c46d3b814cc0c8b963fe3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b849ea23449c46d3b814cc0c8b963fe32025-08-20T02:05:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-03364-2New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosolTom Schaal0Ulrich Schmelz1Frank-Albert Pitten2Tim Tischendorf3Faculty of Health and Healthcare Sciences, University of Applied Sciences ZwickauUniversity of FuldaIKI Institute for Hospital Hygiene & Infection Control GmbHFaculty of Health and Healthcare Sciences, University of Applied Sciences ZwickauAbstract Cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) offers a promising alternative to conventional sterilisation and disinfection methods, which are often unsuitable for thermolabile medical devices due to high temperatures, toxic chemicals or radiation. CAP-A efficiently inactivates microorganisms and viruses without compromising the material integrity. Given the ongoing risk of infection associated with ultrasound probes and other delicate diagnostic instruments, this study investigates whether an indirect CAP-A method can meet all requirements for effective and safe disinfection of thermolabile medical devices. The disinfection of thermolabile medical devices was carried out in a container saturated with indirect CAP-A. A transvaginal ultrasound probe was used as a reference product. The study involved six test organisms, with five measurements taken at six different measurement points. The study showed that Enterococcus hirae (mean logarithmic reduction factor (LRF) > 6.23), Staphylococcus aureus (mean LRF > 6.51), and Enterococcus faecium (mean LRF > 6.16) demonstrated a germ reduction of > 99.9999%. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mean LRF > 5.40) and Escherichia coli (mean LRF > 5.29), a germ reduction of > 99.999% was achieved, and for Candida albicans (mean LRF > 4.95) and Clostridioides difficile (mean LRF > 4.62), a germ reduction of > 99.99% was demonstrated. The log reduction demonstrates a complete inactivation of the six tested microorganisms. The initially defined requirements for an effective disinfection process for thermolabile medical devices were met in the CAP-A method. Regarding highly tenacious microorganisms, such as Clostridioides difficile, the method of CAP-A proved effective, superior to alcohol-based methods, and with no resistance development observed. Its efficacy is otherwise only known in corrosive chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide. However, these chemicals have corrosive-oxidative effects on the surfaces to be disinfected and are critical in terms of market launch and hazardous material classification. Therefore, the method of CAP-A, provides an effective, material-friendly alternative.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03364-2 |
| spellingShingle | Tom Schaal Ulrich Schmelz Frank-Albert Pitten Tim Tischendorf New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol Scientific Reports |
| title | New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol |
| title_full | New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol |
| title_fullStr | New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol |
| title_full_unstemmed | New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol |
| title_short | New approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol |
| title_sort | new approaches to disinfection of thermolabile medical devices using an indirect method with cold atmospheric plasma aerosol |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03364-2 |
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