Effect of microwave radiation on Candida albicans.

PAPER pubmed Microbios 1994 In vitro study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → PMID: 8022308 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Microwave exposure (90 s) provides an effective, rapid sterilization for surgical scalpel blades which have been contaminated with Candida albicans. SEM analysis showed that microwave irradiation induced a morphological modification of the cells. The longer the exposure time the greater such alterations and this micro-organism in effect fractures after 9 min. No evidence was found of morphological alteration of the fungus after being submerged in boiling water for the same amount of time even though cell death was actually achieved.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

harm

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

microwave · 90 s (also reports effects up to 9 min)

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Microwave exposure for 90 seconds was reported to provide rapid sterilization of scalpel blades contaminated with Candida albicans. SEM analysis indicated microwave irradiation induced time-dependent morphological modifications, with greater alterations at longer exposures and apparent fracturing after 9 minutes; boiling water for the same duration achieved cell death but showed no morphological alteration.

Outcomes measured

Sterilization/cell death of Candida albicans on contaminated surgical scalpel blades
Cell morphology changes (SEM)

Limitations

In vitro study on a microorganism; findings may not generalize beyond the described sterilization context
Microwave exposure parameters beyond duration (e.g., frequency, power, SAR) are not reported in the abstract
Sample size and experimental controls are not described in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "90 s (also reports effects up to 9 min)"
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Sterilization/cell death of Candida albicans on contaminated surgical scalpel blades",
        "Cell morphology changes (SEM)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Microwave exposure for 90 seconds was reported to provide rapid sterilization of scalpel blades contaminated with Candida albicans. SEM analysis indicated microwave irradiation induced time-dependent morphological modifications, with greater alterations at longer exposures and apparent fracturing after 9 minutes; boiling water for the same duration achieved cell death but showed no morphological alteration.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro study on a microorganism; findings may not generalize beyond the described sterilization context",
        "Microwave exposure parameters beyond duration (e.g., frequency, power, SAR) are not reported in the abstract",
        "Sample size and experimental controls are not described in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "Candida albicans",
        "sterilization",
        "surgical scalpel blades",
        "SEM",
        "morphological modification",
        "cell death"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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