Decontamination of human skin by low-temperature plasma produced by cometary discharge

Low-temperature plasma produced by DC cometary discharge suppresses bacteria on live human skin of the inner arm side and fingertips. In model experiments, this discharge in open air completely suppressed Escherichia coli within 8 min, whereas Staphylococcus epidermidis was markedly lowered, but not completely eliminated even after 10 min. After inserting an insulated grid and exposure in an enclosed chamber, E. coli was completely suppressed within 2–4 min and S. epidermidis within 10 min. This difference suggests the demand to adapt the European Standard describing the disinfectants and antiseptics test method. Similar results were obtained also for natural human skin bacterial microflora, which was completely quenched after 6–10 min exposure to discharge with the inserted grid acting in an enclosed chamber.