A Blast of Cold Plasma Kills Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Cold plasma torches could be a new way to treat drug-resistant infections and heal wounds more quickly, according to new research. The plasma interferes with microbial DNA without harming human tissue, scientists say. A 10-minute treatment with a low-temperature plasma jet killed about 90 percent of drug-resistant bacteria infecting lab rats, according to a study to be published in the January issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology. It involves a blowtorch spewing ionized gas around 95 degrees to 104 degrees F. German and Russian researchers say the torch was able to kill 99 percent of the bacteria in a lab-grown biofilm and 90 percent of the bacteria in infected rats. The researchers tried it with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which are both ubiquitous in hospitals and can cause wound infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Both are resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. Related ArticlesTo Fight...