Despite considerable knowledge about the effects of shock waves on eukaryotic soft tissues, no data are available concerning their effect on prokaryotic micro-organisms. Invitro studies on the bactericidal effect of extracorporeal shock waves on staphylococci were performed with energy levels that are standard for the disintegration of calculi. Suspensions containing 10 4 ±10 5 cfu of Staphylococcus aureus=ml were sealed in plastic tubes and exposed to shock waves, resulting in a mean decrease of 3.1 log 10 . Whereas impulse rates of >350 resulted in a decrease of cfu=ml equalling the detection limit, lower numbers of impulses did not result in an appreciable bactericidal effect. The bactericidal effect of extracorporeal shock waves might provide the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for bacterial infections.

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