Honey-based dressing: ‘possible MRSA breakthrough’27 August 2007 | Admin A report in the Irish Medical News (by Gary Culliton) says that an Irish study into the use of honey in wound dressings points to a possible breakthrough in the battle against the superbug MRSA. This study involved a randomised controlled trial of treatment of chronic wounds using Active Manuka Honey. More than 100 patients suffering from chronic leg ulcerations took part from a range of medical clinics throughout Ireland. Preliminary findings were presented at the recent European Wound Management conference in Glasgow, with full findings due to be published in an international journal later this year. The Irish Medical News report states:"The effects of Active Manuka honey in the cleansing (debridement) and healing rates of wounds, as well as in antimicrobial activity, were compared to the effects of a standard hydrogel, both under compression, over a 12-week period. After the treatment period, it was determined that the group treated with honey experienced a higher rate of debridement (removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue), significantly faster healing and reduced infection than in the group treated with the standard gel. Particularly striking in the study, was the information about effectiveness of Active Manuka Honey on wounds with a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)."
“Of 10 wounds that were affected with MRSA at the start of the study, seven of the wounds showed no presence of the bacteria after just four weeks of treatment with Manuka honey,” according to Ms Gethin, the study's primary investigator. Part of the criteria for inclusion in this study was wounds that were particularly difficult to manage and prone to infection. The full Irish News Report can be read here .  Stumble It.  Seed Newsvine Share on Facebook
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