title: Topical treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055 induced burn wound infection in mice using natural products.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical Sciences Building, Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh -160014, India.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.forename: Kusum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harjai
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chhibber
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000504:Aloe; D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products