Mohammad Zubair,1,2 Hisham Alshadfan,3 Roba Alatawy,1,2 M Ahmad Hasan Mesaik1,2 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 2Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research Unit, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammad Zubair, Email zmohammad@ut.edu.saIntroduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes, which is worsened by biofilm-forming bacterial infections that can contribute to antibiotic resistance and delayed wound healing. This study explores the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of Maâin Hot Springs Water (MHSW) against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which are associated with DFU.Methods: The chemical composition of MHSW was determined using LC-MS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and heavy metal profiling. Antimicrobial efficacy was determined through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, bacterial growth kinetics, and biofilm inhibition assays.Results: The results demonstrated a dose-dependent antibacterial effect. Biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide production, and bacterial adhesion were reduced in treated samples. Moreover, MHSW disrupted virulence factors such as plasma coagulation and metallo-β-lactamase production. It was also found to be non-cytotoxic.Discussion: These findings demonstrate the potential of MHSW as an alternative or adjunctive treatment for DFU infections. However, the presence of heavy metals exceeding safety limits requires further investigation to determine their optimal concentration for clinical usage.Keywords: diabetic foot ulcers, biofilm, antimicrobial activity, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Maâin hot springs
Zubair et al. (Tue,) studied this question.