Honey as topical application in non-healing infected wounds

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Hi All,

 

Honey application can be effective in infected wounds and ulcers (including

diabetic ulcers) that failed to respond to antibiotic application. Thanks to

for this alert: Honey Remedy Could Save Limbs:

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,71925-0.html?

 

See aso:

 

Natarajan S, Williamson D, Grey J, Harding KG, Cooper RA. Healing of an

MRSA-colonized, hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with honey. J Dermatolog

Treat. 2001 Mar;12(1):33-6. Wound Healing Research Unit, Univ of Wales

Coll of Med, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. subramanian_natarajan

BACKGROUND: With the everincreasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant

pathogens, in particular methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

in leg ulcers, a means of reducing the bacterial bioburden of such ulcers,

other than by the use of either topical or systemic antibiotics, is urgently

required. METHODS: We report the case of an immunosuppressed patient

who developed a hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with subclinical MRSA

infection which was subsequently treated with topical application of manuka

honey, without cessation of hydroxyurea or cyclosporin. RESULTS: MRSA

was eradicated from the ulcer and rapid healing was successfully achieved.

CONCLUSION: Honey is recognized to have antibacterial properties, and

can also promote effective wound healing. A traditional therapy, therefore,

appears to have enormous potential in solving new problems. PMID:

12171686 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Okeniyi JA, Olubanjo OO, Ogunlesi TA, Oyelami OA. Comparison of

healing of incised abscess wounds with honey and EUSOL dressing. J

Altern Complement Med. 2005 Jun;11(3):511-3. Department of Paediatrics

and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Nigeria.

akinyemiokes2 OBJECTIVE: To clinically compare the healing

of abscess wounds dressed with either crude undiluted honey or Edinburgh

University solution of lime (EUSOL). DESIGN: A prospective clinical

randomized study. LOCATION: The Isolation Children's Ward of the Wesley

Guild Hospital, Ilesa, an affiliate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,

Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two (32) Nigerian children with 43 pyomyositis

abcesses. INTERVENTIONS: All subjects had fresh surgical incision and

drainage of the abcesses and a 21-day course of ampicillin plus cloxacillin

(Ampiclox) and gentamicin; the wounds were left to close spontaneously

with twice-daily wound dressing with packing of the abscess cavity with

either honey- or EUSOL-soaked gauze in two randomized treatment

groups. OUTCOME MEASURES: The clinical conditions of the wound sites

were documented on days 1, 3, 7, and 21 as either clean or dirty, dry or wet,

granulation tissue present or absent, and epithelialization present or absent;

the length of hospital stay was also measured. RESULTS: Honey-treated

wounds demonstrated quicker healing and the length of hospital stay was

significantly shorter in patients with honey-treated wounds than those

treated with EUSOL (t = 2.45, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Honey is a

superior wound dressing agent to EUSOL. Honey is recommended for the

dressing of infected wounds, more so in tropical countries, where it is most

readily available. PMID: 15992237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Chambers J. Topical manuka honey for MRSA-contaminated skin ulcers.

Palliat Med. 2006 Jul;20(5):557. PMID: 16903411 [PubMed - in process]

 

al Somal N, Coley KE, Molan PC, Hancock BM. Susceptibility of

Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey. J R Soc

Med. 1994 Jan;87(1):9-12. Comment in: J R Soc Med. 1994

Oct;87(10):644. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato,

Hamilton, New Zealand. Honey is a traditional remedy for dyspepsia, and is

still used for this by some medical practitioners although there is no rational

basis for its use. The finding that Helicobacter pylori is probably the

causative agent in many cases of dyspepsia has raised the possibility that

the therapeutic action of honey may be due to its antibacterial properties.

Consequently, the sensitivity of Helicobacter pylori to honey was tested,

using isolates from biopsies of gastric ulcers. It was found that all five

isolates tested were sensitive to a 20% (v/v) solution of manuka honey in an

agar well diffusion assay, but none showed sensitivity to a 40% solution of a

honey in which the antibacterial activity was due primarily to its content of

hydrogen peroxide. Assessment of the minimum inhibitory concentration by

inclusion of manuka honey in the agar showed that all seven isolates tested

had visible growth over the incubation period of 72 h prevented completely

by the presence of 5% (v/v) honey. PMID: 8308841 [PubMed - indexed for

MEDLINE]

 

Cooper R, Molan P. The use of honey as an antiseptic in managing

Pseudomonas infection. Wound Care. 1999 Apr;8(4):161-4. Comment in: J

Wound Care. 1999 Apr;8(4):155. School of Biomedical Sciences, University

of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK. A laboratory study was undertaken to extend

existing knowledge about the effectiveness of the antibacterial properties of

honey against pseudomonads. To date, sensitivity testing has used non-

standardised honeys, which may vary greatly in their antibacterial potency.

Pure cultures of Pseudomonas spp, isolated from swabs from 20 infected

wounds, were inoculated on the surface of nutrient agar plates containing

various concentrations of honey in the medium. Two types of honey were

used, a manuka honey and a pasture honey, each selected to have

antibacterial activity close to the median for each type. The minimum

inhibitory concentration of the manuka honey for the 20 isolates ranged

from 5.5-8.7% (v/v) (mean 6.9% (v/v), standard deviation 1.3). The

minimum inhibitory concentration of the pasture honey for the 20 isolates

ranged from 5.8-9.0% (v/v) (mean 7.1% (v/v), standard deviation 1.0).

Honeys with an average level of antibacterial activity could be expected to

be effective in preventing the growth of pseudomonads on the surface of a

wound even if the honey were diluted more than ten-fold by exudation from

the wound. PMID: 10455629 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Al-Waili NS. Investigating the antimicrobial activity of natural honey and its

effects on the pathogenic bacterial infections of surgical wounds and

conjunctiva. J Med Food. 2004 Summer;7(2):210-22. Dubai Specialized

Med Center and Med Research Labs, Islamic Establishment for Education,

PO Box 19099, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. noori786

Antimicrobial activities of 10-100% (wt/vol) concentrations of new honey,

stored honey, heated honey, ultraviolet-exposed honey, and heated stored

honey were tested against common human pathogens, including

Escherichia coli, Entrobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella

dysenteriae, Klebsiella sp., Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus sp.,

Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus group B, and Candida

albicans. Antimicrobial activity of honey was tested in acidic, neutral, or

alkaline media. These were compared with similar concentrations of

glucose in nutrient broth. Surgical wounds were made on the dorsum of

mice and infected with S. aureus or Klebsiella sp. The wounds were treated

with local application of honey four times a day or appropriate antibiotics

and compared with control values. Bacterial conjunctivitis due to E. coli,

Proteus sp., S. aureus, Klebsiella sp., and P. aeruginosa was induced in

rats. Conjunctival application of honey four times a day or appropriate

antibiotics was used for treatment and compared with control values.

Growth of all the isolates was completely inhibited by 30-100% honey

concentrations. The most sensitive microbes were E. coli, P. aeruginosa,

and H. influenzae. Glucose showed less antimicrobial activity than honey,

and many microbes showed positive culture even in 100% glucose. Heating

to 80 degrees C for 1 hour decreased antimicrobial activity of both new and

stored honey. Storage of honey for 5 years decreased its antimicrobial

activity, while ultraviolet light exposure increased its activity against some

of

the microorganisms. Antimicrobial activity of honey was stronger in acidic

media than in neutral or alkaline media. Single doses of honey used to

prepare the 60% concentration in nutrient broth were bacteriocidal for P.

aeruginosa and bacteriostatic for S. aureus and Klebsiella sp. during certain

periods. Local application of raw honey on infected wounds reduced

redness, swelling, time for complete resolution of lesion, and time for

eradication of bacterial infection due to S. aureus or Klebsiella sp. Its

potency was comparable to that of local antibiotics. Honey application into

infective conjunctivitis reduced redness, swelling, pus discharge, and time

for eradication of bacterial infections due to all the isolates tested. PMID:

15298770 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Lusby PE, Coombes A, Wilkinson JM. Honey: a potent agent for wound

healing? J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2002 Nov;29(6):295-300.

Links Comment in: J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2002

Nov;29(6):273-4. School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University,

Wagga Wagga, Australia. Although honey has been used as a traditional

remedy for burns and wounds, the potential for its inclusion in mainstream

medical care is not well recognized. Many studies have demonstrated that

honey has antibacterial activity in vitro, and a small number of clinical case

studies have shown that application of honey to severely infected cutaneous

wounds is capable of clearing infection from the wound and improving

tissue healing. The physicochemical properties (eg, osmotic effects and pH)

of honey also aid in its antibacterial actions. Research has also indicated

that honey may possess antiinflammatory activity and stimulate immune

responses within a wound. The overall effect is to reduce infection and to

enhance wound healing in burns, ulcers, and other cutaneous wounds. It is

also known that honeys derived from particular floral sources in Australia

and New Zealand (Leptospermum spp) have enhanced antibacterial

activity, and these honeys have been approved for marketing as therapeutic

honeys (Medihoney and Active Manuka honey). This review outlines what is

known about the medical properties of honey and indicates the potential for

honey to be incorporated into the management of a large number of wound

types. PMID: 12439453 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Best regards,