Manuka honey appears to be an effective antibacterial wound healing agent against MRSA-colonized leg ulcers. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Healing of an MRSA-colonized, hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with honey.
J Dermatolog Treat. 2001 Mar;12(1):33-6. PMID: 12171686
BACKGROUND: With the everincreasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, in particular methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in leg ulcers, a means of reducing the bacterial bioburden of such ulcers, other than by the use of either topical or systemic antibiotics, is urgently required. METHODS: We report the case of an immunosuppressed patient who developed a hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with subclinical MRSA infection which was subsequently treated with topical application of manuka honey, without cessation of hydroxyurea or cyclosporin. RESULTS: MRSA was eradicated from the ulcer and rapid healing was successfully achieved. CONCLUSION: Honey is recognized to have antibacterial properties, and can also promote effective wound healing. A traditional therapy, therefore, appears to have enormous potential in solving new problems.