The potential for honey in the management of wounds and infection

Abstract

Honey has been used as a medicine throughout the history of the human race and has been employed to treat a wide variety of ailments; the use of honey as a wound dressing has been particularly popular across many different cultures. It is likely that much of this popularity stems from the antibacterial properties of honey. Most honeys that exhibit significant antibacterial activity do so due to the production of hydrogen peroxide. Certain Leptospermum honeys from Australia and New Zealand possess additional antibacterial activity of an unusual nature, due to components that are yet to be identified. This broad-spectrum antibacterial activity is equally effective against antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant pathogens. Honey also has positive effects on tissue growth and has been shown to stimulate healing in acute and chronic wounds. The field of wound care is currently suffering increasing problems with antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which, together with nosocomial infections, result in significant patient morbidity and mortality, and place a huge burden on health care systems. We argue that an increased use of selected honeys in wound care might help to alleviate some of these problems.