ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF OZONE (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is considered a public health problem with greater clinical relevance, as it makes it difficult to control infectious diseases; favors the increase of morbidity and mortality; decreases therapeutic efficacy; promotes the transmission of infections to other individuals; poses a risk to patient safety. The development of microorganisms resistant to the action of disinfectants and antimicrobial drugs, associated with the emergence of new pathogens, represent one of the greatest threats to the health of humans and animals. The World Health Organization (WHO), in 2017, released for the first time the classification of bacteria or bacterial families resistant to most of the drugs used, considering that the production of antimicrobials has been restricted to a small amount of chemical compounds. Ozone causes inactivation of bacteria, viruses and fungi, disturbing the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope due to oxidation of phospholipids and lipoproteins. In fungi, O3 inhibits cell growth at certain stages, and the forming cells are more sensitive. With viruses, O3 damages the viral capsid and disrupts the reproductive cycle, interrupting virus-cell contact with peroxidation. The use of ozone as an antiseptic method begins to gain great prominence in scientific research: An advantage of molecular ozone is the permeation of the gas through cell membranes and the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and protozoa, being able to replace chlorine and others disinfectants. Despite the high lethality of ozone, even when inhaled at low concentrations, its use has been suggested as a germicidal, bactericidal and chemical cleaning agent. In addition, it has low cost and ease of operation of ozonators.