This study compares how a helium plasma jet activates peracetic acid (PAA) from tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) and acetic acid (AA). Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) generated from the plasma jets reacts with TAED resulting in the formation of PAA which further dissoci-ates into AA. The by-product AA can also react with H ₂ O ₂ to form PAA, which might also be use-ful for antimicrobial applications when coupled with plasma. Equivalent concentrations of TAED and AA solutions are used to compare the formation of PAA after activation with a helium plasma jet. Our results showed that the concentrations of both H ₂ O ₂ and PAA in plasma-activated TAED (PAT) are higher than plasma-activated AA (PAAA), and that PAT is more efficient in reducing the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus; the pathogens commonly found in wounds. The results are attributed to the presence of more acetyl donor groups in TAED, resulting in the formation of higher concentrations of PAA and H ₂ O ₂ .