Fallon Muireann, Kennedy Sarah, Daniels Stephen, Humphreys Hilary
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Education and Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
J Med Microbiol. 2022 Oct;71(10). doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001582.
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major challenge and the near patient surface is important in harbouring causes such as methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and . Current approaches to decontamination are sub-optimal and many studies have demonstrated that microbial causes of HCAIs may persist with onward transmission. This may be due to the capacity of these microbes to survive in biofilms on surfaces. New technologies to enhance hospital decontamination may have a role in addressing this challenge. We have reviewed current technologies such as UV light and hydrogen peroxide and also assessed the potential use of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) in surface decontamination. The antimicrobial mechanisms of CAPP are not fully understood but the production of reactive oxygen and other species is believed to be important. CAPP systems have been shown to partially or completely remove a variety of biofilms including those caused by , and multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. There are some studies that suggest promise for CAPP in the challenge of surface decontamination in the healthcare setting. However, further work is required to define better the mechanism of action. We need to know what surfaces are most amenable to treatment, how microbial components and the maturity of biofilms may affect successful treatment, and how would CAPP be used in the clinical setting.
医疗保健相关感染（HCAIs）是一项重大挑战，而靠近患者的表面对于藏匿耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）等病原体很重要。目前的去污方法并不理想，许多研究表明，HCAIs的微生物病因可能会持续存在并继续传播。这可能是由于这些微生物在表面生物膜中生存的能力。增强医院去污的新技术可能在应对这一挑战中发挥作用。我们回顾了紫外线和过氧化氢等现有技术，并评估了冷大气压等离子体（CAPP）在表面去污中的潜在用途。CAPP的抗菌机制尚未完全了解，但活性氧和其他物质的产生被认为很重要。CAPP系统已被证明可以部分或完全去除各种生物膜，包括由[未提及的病原体]引起的生物膜，以及耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌等多重耐药细菌。有一些研究表明CAPP在医疗环境中表面去污挑战方面具有前景。然而，需要进一步开展工作以更好地确定其作用机制。我们需要了解哪些表面最适合治疗，微生物成分和生物膜的成熟度如何可能影响成功治疗，以及CAPP在临床环境中将如何使用。
