Inactivation Effects of Plasma-Activated Water on Fungal-Bacterial Polymicrobial Biofilms of Candida albicans and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Mixed infections caused by fungal-bacterial polymicrobial biofilms pose major clinical challenges, and plasma-activated water (PAW) has potential for the treatment of infections. In this study, Candida albicans and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were used to establish fungal-bacterial biofilms, and the inactivation effects of PAWs on the two microorganisms in biofilms were evaluated. The 30-min PAW treatment reduced the viable C. albicans and MRSA within biofilms on silica films to below 2.00-log 10 CFU/mL. The two consecutive 30-min PAW treatments achieved significant reductions of approximately 3.32-log 10 CFU/mL for C. albicans and 4.08-log 10 CFU/mL for MRSA in biofilms on wound-mimicking porcine skins. Therefore, owing to its non-selective inactivation ability, PAW provides an alternative therapy for the mixed infections caused by diverse microorganisms.