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Abstract: Endoscope reprocessing is a time-consuming, multi-step process, and ongoing microbial surveillance is necessary to ensure effective reprocessing and safe storage. Despite this, traditional surveillance methods, such as cultures, are not often carried out due to time and cost constraints, providing only delayed end point results from specific locations, with no insight into biofilm formation, disinfection efficacy, or any variability related to device design. Within this study, the efficacy of plasma activated water (PAW) disinfection (and subsequent regrowth) within endoscopic test pieces was investigated using bacterial bioluminescence enabling real time and in situ monitoring of biofilm formation and treatment efficacy. Real time imaging of bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 SEI MCS5-lite was used to track biofilm growth within translucent PVC endoscopic test pieces across regions of interest using analysis of bioluminescent intensity. Results demonstrated that biofilm accumulation was more prominent around connectors compared to other regions of the test pieces. Disinfection with PAW achieved a significant 96.45% reduction in biofilm density (determined by culture) and a 93.08% reduction in bioluminescence (relative light units). However, percentage reduction in bioluminescence ranged from 77% to 95% across regions indicating lack of uniformity of treatment. Subsequent testing with plasma activated disinfectant (PAD) showed consistent biofilm reduction across all regions, with no variability between connectors and other regions as observed with PAW and other treatments. In conclusion, bioluminescence can be used to assess efficacy of disinfectants and effect of endoscope design by tracking biofilm density in real time and in situ.
Keywords: cold atmospheric plasma, plasma activated water, endoscope reprocessing
Published in DiRROS: 06.02.2026; Views: 468; Downloads: 130
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Abstract: While one of the biggest problems we are facing today is water scarcity, enormous quantities of water are still being used in irrigation. If contaminated, this water can act as an effective pathway for the spread of disease-causing agents, like viruses. Here, we present a novel, environmentally friendly method known as cold atmospheric plasma for inactivation of viruses in water used in closed irrigation systems. We measured the plasma-mediated viral RNA degradation as well as the plasma-induced loss of viral infectivity using potato virus Y as a model virus due to its confirmed water transmissibility and economic as well as biological importance. We showed that only 1 min of plasma treatment is sufficient for successful inactivation of viruses in water samples with either high or low organic background. The plasma-mediated inactivation was efficient even at markedly higher virus concentrations than those expected in irrigation waters. Obtained results point to reactive oxygen species as the main mode of viral inactivation. Our laboratory-scale experiments confirm for the first time that plasma has an excellent potential as the eukaryotic virus inactivation tool for water sources and could thus provide a cost-effective solution for irrigation mediated plant virus transmission. The outstanding inactivation efficiency demonstrated by plasma treatments in water samples offers further expansions of its application to other water sources such as reused wastewater or contaminated drinking waters, as well as other plant, animal, and human waterborne viruses, ultimately leading to the prevention of water scarcity and numerous human, animal, and plant infections worldwide.
Keywords: cold atmospheric plasma, potato virus Y, virus inactivation, water decontamination
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 1177; Downloads: 602
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