The antibacterial activity of tea in vitro and in vivo (in patients with impetigo contagiosa).
A total number of 104 patients with impetigo contagiosa was included in this study. They were 47 females (45.2%) and 57 males (54.8%). Their ages ranged from one month to 40 years with a median of 4 years. This study was divided into two parts: PART I (in vitro): Thirty-five patients were swabbed to determine the microbiology of impetigo contagiosa which included 33 isolates of pure S. aureus (94.3%) and 2 of a combination of S. aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (5.7%). The antibacterial effect of tea liquor (lotion) against S. aureus proved very effective. Antibiotic sensitivity was done for all bacterial isolates of S. aureus. PART II (in vivo): The antibacterial effects of tea liquor and ointment were tested by treating 64 patients with impetigo contagiosa. Tea ointment was very effective with a cure rate of 81.3%. Forty patients were taken as controls and divided into two groups. The first one was given an ointment containing Framycetin and gramicidin (soframycin) with a cure rate of 72.2%; the other group was given oral cephalexin with a cure rate of 78.6%. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first one which demonstrated the anti-bacterial action of crude tea in vivo, against impetigo contagiosa. Clinical data about impetigo are also included in this study.
Sharquie
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Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad University, P.O. Box 61072, Postal Cade 12114, Medical Collection Post Office, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq.
al-Turfi
I A
IA
al-Salloum
S M
SM
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007169:Impetigo / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013662:Tea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea