Local Wound Spray of “Standardised Herbal Antibiotic Extract” on Snakebite Wounds along with Routine Anti Snake Venom Treatment Saves Lives, Limbs and Livelihood of Snakebite Victims in Rural Maharashtra, India - 15 Case Reports as Pilot

Abstract

Background: Globally between 81,000 and 138,000 people around the world die each year from snakebite. Authors noticed that the use of oral/ systematic antibiotics in many snakebite victims failed to heal the snakebite wounds, and either the patients required skin grafting or the bitten part developed necrosis and needed amputation.Objectives: Authors after an extensive literature review thought of neutralising bacteria at the snakebite site by a potent antimicrobial spray, without any side effects.Method: Authors decided to get the antimicrobial profile of herb X and found that it can neutralise the bacteria that are resistant even to the most potent antibiotics available.Results: Herbal extract (234 ml) was prepared for pilot use in snakebite patients. A series of 15 patients were sprayed 2 puffs (7-10 ml) of ready to use herbal spray. None of them developed extensive blisters except the two patients who had mild blisters which resolved subsequently without any deep wound as used to be the case earlier.Conclusion: This pilot project has shown promising results and needs to be applied in more cases in future.