Inactivation of Dermatophytes Causing Onychomycosis Using Non-Thermal Plasma as a Prerequisite for Therapy.

Following our previous study of the therapy of onychomycosis by non-thermal plasma (NTP) and nail hygiene and to obtain some prerequisite data of dermatophytes sensitivity, the dynamics of those inactivation by NTP plasma was monitored for various strains of , , , and . Three strains of each species on agar plates were exposed with plasma produced by a DC corona discharge in the point-to-ring arrangement in various time intervals. Although all strains were sufficiently sensitive to plasma action, significant differences were observed in their sensitivity and inactivation dynamics.

Inactivation of Dermatophytes Causing Onychomycosis and Its Therapy Using Non-Thermal Plasma.

Onychomycosis is one of the most common nail disorders. Its current treatment is not satisfactorily effective and often causes adverse side effects. This study aims to determine the optimal conditions for non-thermal plasma (NTP) inactivation of the most common dermatophytes in vitro and to apply it in patient`s therapy.

Inactivation of human pathogenic dermatophytes by non-thermal plasma.

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) was tested as an in vitro deactivation method on four human pathogenic dermatophytes belonging to all ecological groups including anthropophilic Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale, zoophilic Arthroderma benhamiae, and geophilic Microsporum gypseum. The identification of all strains was confirmed by sequencing of ITS rDNA region (internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA). Dermatophyte spores were suspended in water or inoculated on agar plates and exposed to NTP generated by a positive or negative corona discharge, or cometary discharge.

Nonthermal plasma--A tool for decontamination and disinfection.

By definition, the nonthermal plasma (NTP) is partially ionized gas where the energy is stored mostly in the free electrons and the overall temperature remains low. NTP is widely used for many years in various applications such as low-temperature plasma chemistry, removal of gaseous pollutants, in gas-discharge lamps or surface modification. However, during the last ten years, NTP usage expanded to new biological areas of application like plasma microorganisms' inactivation, ready-to-eat food preparation, biofilm degradation or in healthcare, where it seems to be important for the treatment of cancer cells and in the initiation of apoptosis, prion inactivation, prevention of nosocomial infections or in the therapy of infected wounds.

Treatment of a superficial mycosis by low-temperature plasma: a case report.

A case of dermatomycosis caused by zoophilic strain of Trichophyton interdigitale was treated by low-temperature plasma produced by direct current (DC) cometary discharge. The shortening of skin lesion persistence along with suppression of subjective discomfort and etiological agent was observed.