Paper Title
ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF SUGAR ON ITS OWN AND IN COMBINATION WITH WOUND CLEANING PRODUCTS

Abstract
To evaluate in vitro whether sugar, used in a current wound healing trial, can inhibit microbial growth against microorganisms associated with wound infections. Particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, and to determine any synergistic effects when combined with traditionally used wound cleaning agents. Although sugar has been historically used for wound care in Africa, its adoption in Western medicine remains limited. Preliminary evidence suggests sugar reduces microbial growth by lowering water availability in infected wounds. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) of sugar solutions were determined using a broth dilution method. A well diffusion assay assessed inhibition zones by applying 50µL of sugar solution to agar plates inoculated with test microorganisms, incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. A time-kill assay evaluated the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of sugar-bicarbonate and sugar-bicarbonate-glycerin solutions over 24 hours. Sugar exhibited antimicrobial activity against S. aureus but was ineffective against C. albicans. The MIC of sugar alone was 25%, which decreased to 6.25% when combined with bicarbonate, indicating enhanced efficacy. Sugar solution alone produced an inhibition zone of 7.8mm against S. aureus, while bicarbonate-containing solutions exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 28mm to 35mm. In the time-kill assay, sugar-bicarbonate and sugar-bicarbonate-glycerin solutions demonstrated strong bactericidal effects at 25% concentration against S. aureus. The addition of low-concentration chlorhexidine (0.02%) further enhanced antimicrobial potency. The findings suggest that sugar, particularly when combined with bicarbonate, exhibits significant antimicrobial activity, supporting its potential use in wound care. Understanding the molecular interactions between sugar, bicarbonate, and microbial cells could contribute to the development of novel wound healing therapies. Keywords - antimicrobial properties, Sugar, Wound, Staphylococcus Aureus, Candida Albicans, Bicarbonate, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Time-Kill Assay