TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy of the PlasmaShield®, a Non-Thermal, Plasma-Based Air Purification Device, in Removing Airborne Microorganisms
AU - Whiley, Harriet
AU - Keerthirathne, Thilini P.
AU - Kuhn, Emma J.
AU - Nisar, Muhammad Atif
AU - Sibley, Alex
AU - Speck, Peter
AU - Ross, Kirstin E.
PY - 2022/6/1
Y1 - 2022/6/1
N2 - Airborne microorganisms play a significant role in the transmission of infectious diseases. As such, improving indoor microbial air quality can enhance infection control in numerous settings. This study examined the efficacy of the PlasmaShield® air purification device to remove airborne microorganisms under laboratory conditions. Pure cultures of model microorganisms at varying concentrations were aerosolized using a 1-jet Collison nebulizer through stainless-steel removable piping prior to reaching the PlasmaShield® device. The surviving microorganisms were captured using the Staplex® MBS-6 Six Stage Microbial Air Sampler and enumerated via culture on agar plates. The positive-hole-corrected colony/plaque-forming units were compared with the negative control (microorganisms aerosolized through an empty PlasmaShield® casing). The PlasmaShield® statistically significantly (p < 0.05) reduced airborne Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacteriophage MS2 and Cladosporium sp. compared with the negative control. The maximum removal achieved was estimated to be 4 × log10 E. coli (99.99% removal), 4 × log10 S. epidermidis (99.97% removal), 7 × log10 MS2 (99.99998% removal) and 5 × log10 Cladosporium sp. (99.999% removal). Scanning electron microscope images of the surviving microorganisms showed that the PlasmaShield® damaged the cell membrane of these model microorganisms. This study provides proof-of-concept evidence to support the use of this technology to improve indoor microbial air quality.
AB - Airborne microorganisms play a significant role in the transmission of infectious diseases. As such, improving indoor microbial air quality can enhance infection control in numerous settings. This study examined the efficacy of the PlasmaShield® air purification device to remove airborne microorganisms under laboratory conditions. Pure cultures of model microorganisms at varying concentrations were aerosolized using a 1-jet Collison nebulizer through stainless-steel removable piping prior to reaching the PlasmaShield® device. The surviving microorganisms were captured using the Staplex® MBS-6 Six Stage Microbial Air Sampler and enumerated via culture on agar plates. The positive-hole-corrected colony/plaque-forming units were compared with the negative control (microorganisms aerosolized through an empty PlasmaShield® casing). The PlasmaShield® statistically significantly (p < 0.05) reduced airborne Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacteriophage MS2 and Cladosporium sp. compared with the negative control. The maximum removal achieved was estimated to be 4 × log10 E. coli (99.99% removal), 4 × log10 S. epidermidis (99.97% removal), 7 × log10 MS2 (99.99998% removal) and 5 × log10 Cladosporium sp. (99.999% removal). Scanning electron microscope images of the surviving microorganisms showed that the PlasmaShield® damaged the cell membrane of these model microorganisms. This study provides proof-of-concept evidence to support the use of this technology to improve indoor microbial air quality.
KW - air purification
KW - infection control
KW - indoor air
KW - microbial air quality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163306023&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/electrochem3020019
DO - 10.3390/electrochem3020019
M3 - Article
SN - 2673-3293
VL - 3
SP - 276
EP - 284
JO - Electrochem
JF - Electrochem
IS - 2
ER -
