Plasma may help kill staph

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Researchers meeting in Texas say plasma has potential as a treatment for staph infections.

Gary Friedman, associate director of biomedical plasma research at the Drexel Plasma Institute, said European studies indicate plasma -- or gas that has been electrically charged -- kills bacteria without adverse effects on human skin, The Corpus Christi Caller-Times said Friday.

Friedman, who was attending the International Conference on Plasma Medicine this week in Corpus Christi, Texas, said plasma can sterilize tissue and wounds in five to 10 seconds. The process, however, has not been tested in the United States.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.