Wound bacteria "checked" by honey
Wednesday April 13th, 2011
New research suggests that honey should be better exploited by modern medicine, a British scientist says today.
Professor
Rose Cooper and colleagues at the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK, investigated
the effect of manuka honey on bacteria.
They say that honey "has long been acknowledged for its antimicrobial properties", and was used by ancient civilisations in traditional wound-healing remedies. Manuka honey, made by bees that collect nectar from the manuka tree in New Zealand, is currently used in some licensed wound-care products.
The team looked at how manuka honey interacts with three common types of wound bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Group A Streptococci and Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
They found that honey "interferes with the growth of these bacteria in a variety of ways", and describe it as "an attractive option" for treatment. It could even help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Findings will be presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate, UK, today (April 13).
"Our findings with streptococci and pseudomonads suggest that manuka honey can hamper the attachment of bacteria to tissues which is an essential step in the initiation of acute infections, inhibiting attachment also blocks the formation of biofilms, which can protect bacteria from antibiotics and allow them to cause persistent infections," Professor Cooper said.
"Other work in our lab has shown that honey can make MRSA more sensitive to antibiotics such as oxacillin - effectively reversing antibiotic resistance," she added.
"We need innovative and effective ways of controlling wound infections that are unlikely to contribute to increased antimicrobial resistance. This research indicates that existing antibiotics may be more effective against drug-resistant infections if used in combination with manuka honey."
Presented on April 13, 2011, at the Society for General Microbiology Spring Conference held at Harrogate International Centre, UK.
Tags: Alternative Therapy | MRSA & Hygiene | Pharmaceuticals | UK News
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