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Laser light combined with a photosensitizer may eliminate methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus

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Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of hospital acquired infection throughout the world especially in wound and burn infections, pneumonia, septicaemia and endocarditis. We describe the effect of a HeNe laser in combination with a TBO dye on the viability of MRSA. A total of 34 isolates of S. aureus were obtained from 100 patients suffering from burns or wounds and from the nasal vestibulum of medical and nonmedical staff as carriers; eight isolates were methicillin-resistant. The isolates were exposed for 5, 10 and 15 min to a HeNe laser at a wavelength of 632.8 nm and 7.5 mW output power in the presence of 50 μg/ml toluidune blue O photosensitizer. The viable count was substantially decreased as determined by the plate count method for the three exposure times, with 100% killing with the 15-min exposure time. No significant effect was observed on MRSA isolates exposed to the laser alone. So MRSA was completely eradicated following 15 min exposure to a 632.8-nm HeNe laser in the presence of 50 μg/ml toluidune blue O photosensitizer under in vitro conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Laser for Post Graduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Khalil I. Hajim & Yasemin Z. Rassam

  2. College of Science, Biology Department, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Dhuha S. Salih

Authors
  1. Khalil I. Hajim
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  2. Dhuha S. Salih
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  3. Yasemin Z. Rassam
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Correspondence to Yasemin Z. Rassam.

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Hajim, K.I., Salih, D.S. & Rassam, Y.Z. Laser light combined with a photosensitizer may eliminate methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus . Lasers Med Sci 25, 743–748 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-010-0803-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-010-0803-z

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