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Effects of Microamperage, Medium, and
Bacterial Concentration on Iontophoretic Killing of Bacteria in
Fluid
C P Davis, S Weinberg, M D Anderson, G M Rao and M M
Warren
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, April 1989, p.
442-447
An ionotophoretic generator was used to
provide microamperage (10 to 400uA) to vials [by 2cm long thin metal
electrodes] containg either synthetic urine or supplemented synthetic
urine. Bacteria were added to vials [volume 10ml]. E coli and Proteus
species were both inhibited and killed at various microamperages and with
several electrode types. In general, ionotophoresis at 10, 50, 200, and
400uA killed the bacterial inocula within 2 days. Usually, the organisms
were undetectable within 4 hours, except for K. pneumoniae, for which
survivors were detected after 1 to 2 days.
This work suggests that even
very low microamperage can be effective in reducing or eliminating
bacterial growth. Klebsiella pneumoniae in supplemented synthetic urine
was least inhibited in growth, and higher microamperage (200 to 400
microA) was most effective in killing the bacteria. Bacterial growth
reduction and killing were directly related to increasing
microamperage.
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