Improving antibiotic activity against wound pathogens with manuka honey in vitro.
Following the discovery of synergistic action between oxacillin and manuka honey against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, this study was undertaken to search for further synergistic combinations of antibiotics and honey that might have potential in treating wounds. Fifteen antibiotics were tested with and without sublethal concentrations of manuka honey against each of MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using disc diffusion, broth dilution, E strip, chequerboard titration and growth curves. Five novel antibiotic and manuka honey combinations were found that improved antibacterial effectiveness in vitro and these offer a new avenue of future topical treatments for wound infections caused by these two important pathogens.
Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. rojenkins@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Rowena
R
Jenkins
Rose
R
Cooper
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D031649:Leptospermum / Q000737:chemistry; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents