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The Utilization of Electromagnetic Radiation from a Bowtie Antenna for Eradicating Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria

Abstract:

Maintaining our body healthy is important. However, our body becomes weak due to diseases caused by microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria commonly found on skin and nose. Its strain, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to antibiotics. Skin and mucous membranes are effective barrier against infection. However, if these barriers are breached, S. aureus may gain access to underlying tissues or the bloodstream and cause infection and life-threatening diseases, such as pneumonia, severe sepsis, toxic shock syndrome and endocarditis. Several studies investigated on the effect of Electromagnetic radiation on various microorganisms. Results showed that there is inhibition in proliferation of various microorganisms. This research provides an electronic means of eradicating S. aureus by developing a device that would radiate electromagnetic wave. This study focuses on effect of electromagnetic wave on the growth of S. aureus when exposed to a bowtie antenna at different frequencies. At the most effective frequency, the exposure time and the distance from the radiation were varied to evaluate its effect on the antimicrobial ability. The effectivity of using electromagnetic radiation in eradicating S. aureus was determined by monitoring the number of colony forming units that grew on the blood agar plates after incubation. The results indicate that the growth of S. aureus was inhibited when it was exposed to electromagnetic radiation. This inhibitory effect could be used in medicine, where its drug resistance may be decreased and could possibly be used to prevent or eliminate infections.