ABSTRACT
Purpose: To investigate the antimicrobial effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on pathogens associated with canine bacterial keratitis. Materials and methods: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and Streptococcus canis strains, which were obtained from dogs with infectious keratitis, were subjected to testing. For each species, four isolates and a reference strain were cultivated on Columbia sheep blood agar and treated with the kiNPen Vet® plasma pen from Neoplas GmbH, Greifswald, Germany. Various continuous treatment durations (0.5, 2, and 5 min) were applied, along with a 0.5-min treatment repeated four times at short intervals. These treatments were conducted at distances of 3 and 18 mm between the agar surface and the pen. Results: CAP treatment reduced bacterial growth in all three species. The most effective treatment duration was 5 min at 3 mm distance, resulting in inhibition zones ranging from 19 to 22 mm for P. aeruginosa, 26-45 mm for S. pseudintermedius and an overall reduction of bacterial growth for Str. canis. Inhibition zones were smaller with decreasing treatment duration and larger distance. Treatment times of 30 s repeated four times and 2 min showed comparable results. Treatment with argon alone did not lead to visible reduction of bacterial growth. Conclusion: Argon cold atmospheric plasma demonstrated a potent in vitro antimicrobial effect on P. aeruginosa, S. pseudintermedius and Str. canis strains with the latter showing the highest sensitivity.
ABSTRACT
The first National Health Conference, “Vers un plan national santé”, was held in Luxembourg in November 2005. This event resulted in the development of a 10-year interministerial strategy on promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity with a focus on children and adolescents, entitled “Gesond iessen, méi beweegen” (“Eat healthily, move more”; GIMB) (2006–2016). An interdisciplinary body, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, Childhood and Youth, and the Ministry of Family, Integration and the Greater Region, was established to coordinate implementation of the action plan and evaluate the results. The Ministry of Health coordinated the group. The aim of GIMB 2006–2016 was to increase awareness among the general population and provide information about the importance of healthy lifestyles to physical, mental and social health, promote balanced nutrition, and increase the quantity and quality of physical activity in the population, with a focus on children and adolescents. GIMB 2006–2016 serves as an example of a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to achieving SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 10 (reduce inequalities) and the goal of the WHO “Roadmap to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, building on Health 2020, the European policy for health and well-being” of leaving no one behind. In 2018, the strategy was renewed in the form of the GIMB national framework for 2018–2025.
