Medical-Grade Honey as an Alternative Treatment for Antibiotics in Non-Healing Wounds-A Prospective Case Series.

Adéla Holubová,Lucie Chlupáčová,Lada Cetlová,Andrea Pokorná,Niels A J Cremers

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10080918

Abstract

Non-healing wounds are usually colonised by various types of bacteria. An alternative to antibiotic treatment in patients with infected wounds with local signs of inflammation may be medical-grade honey (MGH), which favourably affects the healing process with its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of MGH therapy on the healing process of non-healing wounds of various aetiologies and different wound colonisations. Prospective, observation–intervention case studies (n = 9) of patients with wounds of various aetiologies (venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, surgical wound dehiscence) are presented. All wounds were treated with MGH and the healing trajectory was rigorously and objectively monitored. In all cases, pain, odour, and exudation were quickly resolved, which led to an improvement in the quality of life of patients. Despite the proven bacterial microflora in wounds, antibiotic treatment was not necessary. The effects of MGH alleviated the signs of local infection until their complete elimination. In eight out of nine cases, the non-healing wound was completely healed. MGH has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in wounds of various aetiologies and forms an effective alternative for the use of antibiotics for treating locally infected wounds.

Highlights

The Wound Healing Society has defined four categories of non-healing ulcers based on their aetiology: pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and ulcers due to venous insufficiency or arterial insufficiency [1]
A 57-year-old female patient presented with a dehisced surgical wound at her left breast following a breast-conserving operation as a result of being diagnosed with breast cancer (Figure 1a)
In our prospective case series, we confirmed in a group of nine patients on an outpatient basis that medical-grade honey (MGH) treatment has beneficial effects on the healing process of infected non-healing wounds of various aetiologies

Summary

Introduction

The Wound Healing Society has defined four categories of non-healing ulcers based on their aetiology: pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and ulcers due to venous insufficiency or arterial insufficiency [1]. A non-healing wound is usually present for at least 4 weeks [2]. Non-healing wounds have a major impact on the patient’s quality of life [3,4]. The main goal in the treatment of non-healing wounds is their healing and the alleviation of unpleasant wound symptoms, such as pain and malodour [5]. An objective assessment of non-healing wounds, including the overall condition of the patient, is very important to develop a realistic treatment plan and to determine cost-effectivity [6,7,8,9]

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Discussion

Conclusion