Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Growth Inhibition Using an Innovative High Voltage Nanosecond Pulser: In Vitro Experimental Results.

Multi-Resistant Bacteria (MRB) is a threatening biomedical problem, whose solution is of paramount importance. Due to the antibiotics resistance there is an emerging need for novel treatment strategies and protocolls. As bacteria tolerance in modern chemotherapeytic agents expands, the introduction of alternative methods is fundamental. The use of High voltage Electric Pulses, through a process known as Irreversible Electroporation (IRE), is an effective alternative bacterial control method. This paper describes a new prototype high voltage nanosecond pulser and validates its effectiveness in the in-vitro growth inhibition of a clinical resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain. Radiofrequency (RF) pulses of 100 ns and 450 ns pulse width and 1 Hz and 1 kHz repetition rate respectively were tested for therapy time in the range of 20-200 s. Increasing the electric field strength up to 11.5 kV/cm and the duration of therapy time up to 200 s results in 3.5 log scale reduction in bacterial cells. Nanosecond electric pulsed fields from our prototype device inhibite S. aureus growth in in-vitro test. It is sugested to test our prototype device in ex-vivo studies and propose a therapeutic protocol for infected skin wounds.