The influence of single-pulse and tandem shock waves on bacteria

Abstract

Tandem shock waves have shown to enhance kidney stone fragmentation during in vitro and in vivo extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). The purpose of this research was to study the influence of shock waves on the viability of two strains of bacteria in solution, and to verify if tandem shock waves increase microorganism death. A piezoelectric shock wave generator was modified to generate either standard (single-pulse) or tandem (dual-pulse) shock waves. E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes were exposed in vitro to thousands of standard shock waves. Another group was subjected to the same number of tandem shock waves with a delay of 450 μs. A third group was exposed to tandem shock waves having a 900-μs delay. No inactivation was observed for both microorganisms at up to 8,000 standard shock waves. About 40% of L. monocytogenes and 50% of E. coli were inactivated after treatment with tandem waves at a delay of 900 μs. Inactivation was less efficient for a delay of 400 μs. Our results could be useful in medicine, because infection stones are still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after SWL. The use of tandem shock waves to treat persistent localized infections or as a novel non-thermal food-preservation method also might be possible.