To assess the contribution of the individual antimicrobial mechanisms of MAWG to its overall anti-biofilm properties, BMIC 50 and MBECs of MGO and a mixed sugar solution with high-osmolarity were determined, respectively ( Table 2). When honey is diluted with water, reducing its high sugar content, it still inhibits the growth of many different bacterial species that cause wound infections ( 14, 15, 17–20). She stated that double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trials with sufficient power are needed to determine the efficacy of honey in both initial wound management and secondary treatment of infected and poorly healing wounds.

Our study used in vitro models that closely mimic the clinical environment of the driveline exit-site and evaluated MAWG as a therapeutic agent and a prophylactic agent for driveline infections, respectively. The various registered medical honey products available, some in the form of prepared honey-impregnated dressings, have been described ( 14, 45). In contrast, medical honey does not display the problem of systemic absorption and thus can even be utilized in patients with diabetes mellitus without adverse effects on blood glucose levels.This assay yields more reproducible and informative results in comparison with other testing methods such as agar well diffusion or disk diffusion methods ( Osés et al.

Last but not least, medical honey successfully manages the problem of malodour from chronic colonized wounds, which results in severe discomfort and social isolation in these patients.To assess the effectiveness of MAWG in preventing planktonic cultures from growing early adherent monolayers on driveline materials, MAWG was applied on the surface of driveline cutouts and a microbial adherence assay was carried out ( Qu et al. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. Medical-grade honeys have been used for the treatment of infection in chronic wounds and persistent diabetic ulcers ( Soffer, 1976; Dunwoody and Acton, 2008). found that the osmotic effect of honey was the most important mechanism for killing Helicobacter pylori, while hydrogen peroxide only played a minor role ( Osato et al. I had applied some gel to my arm and after two days I was amazed at how quickly I could see the results.

The anti-biofilm properties of MAWG were multi-faceted, with the often-advertised “active” ingredient methylglyoxal (MGO) playing a less important role. Surely, we do not criticize the emergency care use of raw honey directly derived from local bee keepers in countries with extremely limited medical resources ( 54) in which physicians or other health care workers do not have access to conventional wound care products ( 13, 55–57). Thus, the application of an anaesthetic to the wound surface may result in an objectionable reduction of local perfusion.Although the patient was scheduled to receive chemotherapy, treatment could not commence until the infection cleared.

A total of 55%patients treated with topical honey showed no change or a positive gain in body weight compared with only 25% in the control arm ( P = 0. We now use it on minor cuts, sore areas, burns, even infected wounds instead of what a gp would normally recommend. Provides autolytic debridement through the osmotic action, effectively removing necrotic tissue and wound slough. Antibiotic susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from very low birth weight babies: comprehensive comparisons of bacteria at different stages of biofilm formation.Documented merits of honey as an antimicrobial agent include effectiveness against both planktonic cultures and biofilms ( Lu et al. The effectiveness of honey against antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and its low likelihood of selecting for further resistant strains suggest that this agent may represent a satisfactory alternative means of chemoprophylaxis in patients with central venous catheters. More prospective studies investigating the overall cost of treatment with medical honey compared with conventional wound care approaches are awaited ( 64) in particular in chronic, recalcitrant wounds. Neither type of activity is influenced by the final sterilizing procedure of gamma-irradiation ( 23).