Abstract
Burn wound infection remains the principal cause of death in burn patients. Efficacy of honey and aloe vera gel was evaluated in the treatment of burn wound infection induced with Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055 and their efficacy was compared with an isolated and well-characterized Klebsiella specific phage Kpn5. A full thickness burn wound was induced in mice and infected with K. pneumoniae B5055 via topical route. The efficacy of natural antimicrobial agents (honey and aloe vera gel) topically applied daily was compared with the efficacy of phage Kpn5 suspended in hydrogel applied topically a single time on the burn wound. Efficacy of these antimicrobial agents was assessed on the basis of the percentage of infected mice that survived following treatment. In comparison to untreated control mice, those treated with a single dose of phage Kpn5 at MOI of 200 showed significant reduction in mortality (P < 0.001). Daily application of honey and aloe vera gel provided significant protection (P < 0.001), but in combination with phage, no additional advantage was observed (P > 0.05) compared to the use of honey and aloe vera gel alone. The results of this study strongly suggest that phage Kpn5 has therapeutic value in treating burn wound infection in mice as a single topical application of this phage was able to rescue mice from infection caused by K. pneumoniae B5055 in comparison to multiple applications of honey and aloe vera gel.
Highlights
Skin serves as a barrier to water and various pathogens [1]
A mouse burn wound model was used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of honey and Aloe vera gel (AVG) in comparison to phage Kpn5 in the treatment of infection caused by K. pneumoniae B5055
Many studies have shown that honey has antibacterial activity in vitro, and this observation is supported by clinical case studies in which the application of honey to severely infected cutaneous wounds helped clear infection from the wound and improved healing [43,44]
Summary
Skin serves as a barrier to water and various pathogens [1]. Thermal injury destroys this barrier that normally prevents invasion of bacteria, fungi and viruses [2]. Efficacy of honey and aloe vera gel was evaluated in the treatment of burn wound infection induced with Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055 and their efficacy was compared with an isolated and well-characterized Klebsiella specific phage Kpn. The efficacy of natural antimicrobial agents (honey and aloe vera gel) topically applied daily was compared with the efficacy of phage Kpn suspended in hydrogel applied topically a single time on the burn wound. Efficacy of these antimicrobial agents was assessed on the basis of the percentage of infected mice that survived following treatment. Conclusions: The results of this study strongly suggest that phage Kpn has therapeutic value in treating burn wound infection in mice as a single topical application of this phage was able to rescue mice from infection caused by K. pneumoniae B5055 in comparison to multiple applications of honey and aloe vera gel
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