Atmosferic pressure non-thermal plasma: Preliminary investigation.

Antibacterial activity of atmosferic pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) was assessed for bacterial, yeast and mold strains. This investigation is to be considered preliminary: a second step is envisaged in which the efficacy of the technique and the device will be assessed directly on food of animal and plant origin. The strains (ATCC or wild type) of , , , , , , (bacteria); , , , , , , (moulds); and (yeasts) were subjected to plasma plume generated by the action of electric fields with a gas mixture (oxygen and helium) delivered for 5 min at a distance of 2 cm.